A Tesla travelling at 112km/h has hit and killed a 71-year-old man, with the driver claiming the car was in full self-driving mode when it ploughed into the pedestrian in the dead of night.
The 26-year-old driver told investigators that the Tesla was operating in the automated driving mode when it hit the man on a Californian freeway on Thursday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Horrifying footage reviewed by investigators showed the pedestrian walking from the right shoulder towards the centre divider — directly into the Tesla’s path.
The Tesla applied its brakes and swerved left in an attempt to avoid the man but it was too late.
“The video showed the Tesla’s brakes being applied as the vehicle steered to the left in an effort to avoid the pedestrian,” highway patrol said.
“Despite these evasive actions, the right front portion of the Tesla struck the individual.”
The man was then hit by at least one other vehicle while lying in the traffic lanes.
Emergency services were called but the pedestrian died at the scene.
The Tesla driver stopped at the scene and spoke to investigators but other motorists involved in the collision drove away without stopping to cooperate.
Police have yet to identify the other driver or drivers.
Investigators have not established why the 71-year-old was crossing the busy freeway in the middle of the night.
The crash comes amid fresh scrutiny of Tesla’s full self-driving system after another serious collision involving a driver who claimed he was asleep while the technology was engaged.
Earlier this week, a 22-year-old US man slammed into a police cruiser while claiming to have been asleep behind the wheel of a Tesla using the driving mode. Two officers were seriously hurt.
Despite its name, Tesla’s full self-driving system does not make a vehicle fully autonomous. It can steer, change lanes and navigate roads and highways but drivers must remain alert and ready to take control.