A fatal accident involving a 2024 Tesla Model Y occurred in Manhattan on Wednesday at approximately 2:43–2:45 AM. The vehicle struck a pedestrian shelter, a bus stop sign, and scaffolding on East 42nd Street before stopping near Second Avenue. One passenger, 27-year-old Elise Suomi, died at Bellevue Hospital, while the driver, 27-year-old Alejandra Paharsingh, remains in stable condition.
Police reported that the driver's blood alcohol concentration was 0.229%, exceeding the legal limit of 0.08%. The driver admitted to drinking before the crash, and neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt. Authorities have charged the driver with vehicular manslaughter, driving while impaired, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk denied that the Autopilot system was involved in the crash, stating that the accident would not have occurred if the system had been active. Musk criticized media coverage of the incident, suggesting that outlets are biased against Tesla due to the company's lack of advertising. ABC News subsequently deleted its initial post regarding the accident.
The New York City Police Department has not attributed the cause of the crash to Autopilot or FSD in its official statements. This incident follows previous public disputes regarding Tesla's driver-assistance systems, including a 2024 incident in Colorado involving a driver under the influence and a 2024 Texas crash where a Model 3 driver was found to have taken control of the vehicle.
