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Last Updated:June 24, 2025, 17:39 IST
The complaint claims Tesla’s flawed design caused the car to drift out of its lane and fail to brake in time, leading to a fatal crash that killed three people
Tesla has faced longstanding questions regarding the safety of its self-driving technology. (AP/File)
Tesla was sued on Monday by the estates of three individuals who died in a crash on New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway in September 2024 while in a Model S car equipped with Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features.
The ‘wrongful death’ lawsuit, filed in a Camden, New Jersey court, attributes the deaths of David Dryman, 54; his wife Michelle, 54; and their daughter Brooke, 17, to the car’s “faulty and highly dangerous design." Notably, Brooke’s older brother, Max Dryman, was not in the vehicle at the time.
What Did Tesla Say?
Elon Musk and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the market’s closure. Similarly, lawyers also did not provide immediate responses to similar requests.
Tesla, a company based in Austin, Texas, has faced longstanding questions regarding the safety of its self-driving technology. The company insists that its features are meant for “fully alert" drivers who must keep their hands on the steering wheel and that these features do not render the vehicles autonomous.
How Safe Is Tesla’s Autopilot Mode?
Under pressure from the Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Tesla agreed in December 2023 to recall over 2 million vehicles in the United States to enhance safety measures in its Autopilot advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).
How Did The Accident Happen?
According to reports, the Dryman family was returning from a music festival on September 14, 2024, when their Model S car veered off the road in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, and crashed into a sign, guardrail, and concrete bridge support.
The complaint alleges that the car’s defective design caused it to drift out of its lane and fail to engage emergency braking, resulting in the accident. It also claims Tesla neglected to warn David Dryman, who was driving, about the safety risks of his Model S. The complaint notes that the Dryman family was wearing seat belts at the time of the incident.
Location :United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Elon Musk's Tesla Sued For Autopilot Crash That Killed Family Of 3 In New Jersey
