Police say Tesla’s auto pilot feature inactive in Sunday’s deadly crash

A preliminary investigation into Sunday’s deadly crash in San Francisco indicates the Tesla’s auto pilot feature was not active when it struck and killed one pedestrian and seriously injured another.

The San Francisco Police Department’s Traffic Collision Investigation Unit is preparing search warrants and working with the car manufacturer to obtain documentary evidence.

The department said investigators have already removed a data storage device from the vehicle and will analyze data to determine what actions and events led up to the incident.

Shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday, the driver of a Tesla vehicle struck and killed Benjamin Dean, 39, of Clovis at the intersection of Taylor and O’Farrell streets. His wife also suffered injuries and is still being treated at the hospital. Both were in the crosswalk.

Supervisor Matt Haney, who represents the neighborhood where the collision occurred, said the couple had been celebrating their wedding anniversary.

Police arrested the Tesla’s driver, 21-year old Kelsey Mariah Cambridge, and charged her with vehicular manslaughter and a red light violation.

Police allege Cambridge ran a red light while driving on Taylor Street and hit a Mini Cooper, causing both vehicles to lose control at the intersection of O’Farrell Street. Cambridge eventually struck both pedestrians.

Members of Walk San Francisco and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition rallied on the steps of City Hall Thursday, calling on city leaders to declare a state of emergency for traffic safety. The organizations requested that police and The City increase traffic enforcement and quickly build additional safety infrastructure to protect pedestrians and bicyclists.

During the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, Haney introduced a resolution urging Mayor London Breed and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to declare a state of emergency in light of recent traffic safety incidents.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.