Recently, media reports indicated that a Tesla employee was involved in a fatal accident suspected to have occurred while using FSD (Full Self-Driving), and the employee was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. In response, Musk posted on the X platform stating: The employee did not activate FSD at the time, and the vehicle had not downloaded FSD software at all. If FSD had been activated, this accident might not have occurred.
According to reports, the incident took place in 2022, when Tesla recruiting personnel Hans von Ohain and his friend Erik Rossiter were driving a Tesla Model 3 to play golf in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado. An accident occurred on their return journey. The Model 3 collided with a tree and burst into flames, resulting in the unfortunate death of von Ohain.
Following recent reports of the incident, it sparked widespread discussion. According to 911 dispatch records obtained by foreign media, Rossiter, the survivor of the accident, told emergency responders: "von Ohain was using Tesla's autopilot feature," and "it went straight off the road." Rossiter stated that they played 21 holes of golf during the day, consumed alcohol, and then drove back. The FSD Beta had made several turns during the journey, and "von Ohain appeared calm, not drunk at all." This statement immediately raised public doubts about the safety of Tesla's autonomous driving. In a recent interview, Rossiter also claimed that he believed von Ohain was using FSD. If true, this would be the first known fatal accident involving Tesla's FSD.
However, during von Ohain's autopsy, it was discovered that his blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit. The Colorado police determined that alcohol impairment was the primary factor behind the accident but also investigated the potential role of the Tesla FSD beta.
Nora Bass, von Ohain's widow, hopes Tesla will take responsibility for her husband's death: "Regardless of how drunk he was, Musk claimed this car could drive itself and do better than humans. We were sold a false sense of security." However, due to von Ohain's suspected drunk driving, Nora Bass has been unable to find a lawyer to take the case.
