--- title: "Watch a Tesla — Reportedly on Autopilot — Slam Into Flipped Truck" description: "A new video by Taiwanese media shows a Tesla Model 3 slamming into the roof of an overturned truck trailer. Self-driving features were reportedly on." date: "2020-06-02" modified: "2020-06-02" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-autopilot-slam-overturned-truck" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "autopilot" - "Model 3" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Watch a Tesla — Reportedly on Autopilot — Slam Into Flipped Truck ![A new video by Taiwanese media shows a Tesla Model 3 slamming into the roof of an overturned truck trailer. Self-driving features were reportedly on.]() *\Image: ETtoday via Twitter\* ## Slammed A video uploaded by Taiwanese media shows a Tesla Model 3 slamming into the roof of an overturned truck trailer, [*Jalopnik* reports](). https://youtu.be/HsuS0Lyr5gg The vehicle appears to slow down only an instant before plowing into the large, immobile box truck blocking two out of three lanes of traffic. [*Electrek* suggests]() the vehicle applied its automatic emergency braking system, causing smoke to billow up right before the crash. Luckily, no one was hurt according to [local media](), which also [suggested that]() Autopilot was engaged prior the collision. ## On Autopilot So what happened here? Was it a distracted driver? Should Tesla's Autopilot feature be to blame? Most likely it was a combination of all of the above. It wouldn't be the first instance of Teslas smashing into things at high speeds while on Autopilot. There's that one time an Apple engineer [died in March 2018]() after Autopilot reportedly forced his vehicle to swerve into a highway barrier. [Drunk]() and even [sleeping]() drivers have also been caught behind the wheels of a "self-driving" Tesla. Tesla has been vague and [arguably misleading]() in its marketing for the feature. The name itself "Autopilot" suggests the vehicle is capable of autonomous driving. In reality, the feature is only capable of taking care of switching and staying in lanes, getting on and off highways, and having it leave your garage by itself, as per [their website](). **READ MORE:** [Tesla Model 3 Drives Straight Into Overturned Truck In What Seems To Be Autopilot Failure]() **More on Autopilot:** *[TESLA RETURNS AUTOPILOT FEATURES TO USED CAR AFTER OUTRAGE]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()