Tesla has reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that a driver-assistance system was active during a fatal crash involving a 2021 Model Y. The incident occurred on August 22, 2026, in Vineland, New Jersey, when the vehicle veered off Route 55, crossed a median, and collided with a Chevrolet SUV.
The collision resulted in the death of the 68-year-old Chevrolet driver, Phillip Eastman, and left the Tesla driver and a passenger in the SUV injured. Tesla marked the automation system status as 'Verified Engaged' in its report to the regulator, though it did not specify whether Autopilot or Full Self-Driving was in use at the time.
Tesla has withheld specific details regarding the software version, the accident narrative, and whether the road was authorized for system operation, citing these as confidential business information. The company also confirmed it holds telematics data but did not indicate the availability of Event Data Recorder information or onboard video footage.
According to the report, the vehicle was traveling at 60 km/h prior to the crash, though this figure may not represent the speed at the moment the car left the road. Under NHTSA regulations, manufacturers are required to report accidents involving Level 2 driver-assistance systems if the technology was active within 30 seconds of a collision resulting in a fatality.
