Tesla Autopilot Helps Drive Man to Emergency Room

Missouri attorney Joshua Neally says he relied on the Autopilot feature in his Tesla Model X electric vehicle to help drive him more than 20 miles to a hospital after suffering a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism on his way home from work late last month.

After feeling a sharp pain in his abdomen and chest, Neally called his wife and they agreed he should go immediately to an emergency room. But instead of pulling over and waiting for an ambulance, he decided it would be faster to continue to use the car’s Autopilot system, which he had activated earlier in the trip.

At the appropriate exit, Neally assumed control of the vehicle and drove the last few blocks to the hospital. He was treated upon his arrival and released later that day.

The controversial Autopilot technology, which has been linked to several recent Tesla accidents—including one in which the driver was killed—allows for autonomous steering, braking and throttle control on select highways. Neally, who had purchased the Model X about a week earlier, says he had practiced with the system enough to feel comfortable using it but remained attentive while it was on.

Tesla has made several over-the-air updates to the system since it began offering Autopilot last year. Neally says he’s prompted to return his hands to the steering wheel if he takes them off for more than a few minutes at a time. If he doesn’t respond accordingly, he notes, the vehicle is designed to find a safe place to park at the side of the road.