Tesla Autopilot was on in I-35 crash that killed its driver

A 2024 Tesla Model Y ran off Interstate 35 in rural Missouri, struck a guardrail, and killed its driver, a 64-year-old woman from Raymore. Tesla’s own report to federal regulators indicated that the car’s driver-assist system was engaged, but the details of what happened were redacted. The crash occurred on April 14, 2025, and the car was traveling at 73 mph in a 70-mph zone. The driver was wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash was reported as a "road departure" and the system was either basic Autopilot or "Full Self-Driving." Tesla redacted the software version, leaving the exact system unknown.

Tesla filed a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under a Standing General Order requiring reports where a Level 2 driver-assist system was engaged. The report included the car’s pre-crash speed, impact details, and the fact that the system was engaged. The report redacted information about the specific system, hardware, and software versions, making it impossible to determine whether the system was Autopilot or Full Self-Driving. The crash was the only fatal Tesla crash on that stretch of I-35 that month. The report was filed on April 2025, predating the "Verified Engaged" confirmation flag Tesla now uses for newer filings.

The redaction of the crash details highlights the gap between the name and the machine, as Tesla promotes its driver-assist systems as "Full Self-Driving" while still requiring human supervision. The redacted report makes it impossible to determine whether the system was engaged and how it contributed to the crash. Tesla is under investigation by the NHTSA for how it reports these crashes. The crash was matched to the NHTSA record in Pattonsburg, Missouri, with the vehicle identified as a 2024 Model Y. The report was filed at 20:03 UTC, which corresponds to 3 p.m. local time, matching when the Missouri State Highway Patrol worked the scene. The crash was the only fatal Tesla crash on that stretch of I-35 in April 2025.

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