---
title: "Tesla With Autopilot Engaged Rear-Ends Parked Police Car"
description: "A Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot engaged crashed into the back of a police cruiser parked on Connecticut's Interstate 95 to help a disabled vehicle."
date: "2019-12-09"
modified: "2019-12-09"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-autopilot-engaged-rear-ends-parked-police-car"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Tesla"
tags:
  - "autopilot"
  - "Model 3"
  - "tesla"
  - "the digest"
---

# Tesla With Autopilot Engaged Rear-Ends Parked Police Car

![A Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot engaged crashed into the back of a police cruiser parked on Connecticut's Interstate 95 to help a disabled vehicle.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/tesla-autopilot-engaged-rear-ends-parked-police-car.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Tesla/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Blind Spot

Early Saturday morning, a Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot engaged [slammed into the back](<https://ww.electrek.co/2019/12/09/tesla-autopilot-crashes-police-vehicle-reckless-driving/>) of a parked police cruiser. The driver told police he didn't see the cruiser because he was checking on his dog in the backseat.

Thankfully, no one was hurt — but the incident is just the latest example of why Tesla owners need to stop [relying on Autopilot](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-driver-eating-drinking-autopilot-crash>) to drive their cars.

## No Excuse

The cruiser was parked on Connecticut's Interstate 95 to help a stalled vehicle, *NBC Connecticut* [reported](<https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Tesla-in-Auto-Pilot-Hits-Back-of-Police-Car-on-I-95-in-Norwalk-State-Police-565925101.html>) on Saturday.

The troopers on the scene had placed flares on the road behind the vehicles, and the cruiser's emergency lights were flashing. But that didn't stop the Tesla from rear-ending the police car and then hitting the disabled vehicle before coming to a stop several hundred feet up the road.

## Eyes on the Road

The driver of the Tesla received a misdemeanor summons for reckless driving and reckless endangerment. And based on a [photo](<https://www.wfsb.com/news/state-police-cruiser-struck-by-tesla-in-autopilot-mode-on/article_03f661fa-18ff-11ea-968f-5bb6ecb31c72.html>) of his vehicle after the crash, he's also in for some major repair costs.

Still, the situation could have been far worse. And as Connecticut State Police noted in a [statement](<https://www.facebook.com/connecticutstatepolice/posts/2559517627610906>) following the incident, having Autopilot engaged is no excuse to take your eyes off the road.

"Regardless of your vehicles capabilities," it wrote, "when operating a vehicle your full attention is required at all times to ensure safe driving."

**READ MORE:** [Tesla driver cited with ‘reckless driving’ after crashing into police car while on Autopilot](<https://ww.electrek.co/2019/12/09/tesla-autopilot-crashes-police-vehicle-reckless-driving/>) \[*Electrek*\]

**More on Autopilot:** *[A Tesla Driver Was Eating, Drinking During Autopilot Crash](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-driver-eating-drinking-autopilot-crash>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)