Driver was watching movie when Tesla hit NC deputy’s vehicle, troopers say

ZEBULON, N.C. — A man watching a movie while his Tesla was on autopilot crashed into a North Carolina deputy’s vehicle, authorities said.

According to the State Highway Patrol, Devainder Goli, of Raleigh, was watching a movie on his phone while the Tesla was on autopilot early Wednesday, WNCN reported.

A Nash County deputy and a trooper with the Highway Patrol were on the side of the road, responding to a previous crash shortly after midnight, when the Tesla hit the deputy’s cruiser, the television station reported.

The impact of the crash pushed the deputy’s cruiser into the trooper’s vehicle, which knocked the deputy and trooper to the ground.

“Thankfully, no one was injured,” Trooper Jeff Wilson told WNCN.

“It was a simple lane closure and then suddenly death was at our footsteps,” Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone, told the television station. “It shows automation is never going to take the place of the motoring public paying attention, not texting, not being on the phone, but focusing on what you were doing, that is, driving.”

Goli was charged with a move-over law violation and location of television in a vehicle violation, WNCN reported.

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