Elon Musk disputes Autopilot involvement in fatal Manhattan Tesla crash

Elon Musk has disputed reports suggesting that Tesla's Autopilot system was responsible for a fatal crash involving a 2024 Model Y in Midtown Manhattan. The incident occurred in the early hours of September 9, when a vehicle struck various objects, including mailboxes and bus stop signs, near Madison Avenue before coming to a stop several blocks away.

One passenger died following the collision. The driver, a 27-year-old woman, was arrested and faces charges including vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of an accident. Authorities reported that the driver's blood alcohol concentration was approximately three times the legal limit.

While media outlets initially linked the crash to the vehicle's technology, the New York Police Department has not stated that Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) modes were active at the time. Musk responded to news coverage on X, stating, “It was not the car's fault,” and suggesting that the accident would not have occurred if Autopilot had been engaged.