Tesla Autopilot Fails, Girl Killed in Crash; Court Orders ₹2100 Crore Compensation
San Francisco (The Uttam Hindu): In a landmark judgment, a U.S. federal jury has ordered Elon Musk-led Tesla to pay over $240 million in damages after its Autopilot technology was found partially responsible for a deadly crash in 2019.
The tragic incident involved a Tesla Model 3 that struck two young lovers — 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon, who died on the spot, and Dylan Angulo, who suffered severe injuries. The couple had stopped to admire the stars when the car, allegedly on autopilot, veered and struck them on the roadside.
While the driver admitted to being distracted by his mobile phone, the jury found that Tesla’s driver assistance technology also failed, making the company liable. This crash, previously dismissed as human error, now sets a precedent where the tech itself is held accountable.
The breakdown of the awarded damages includes:
$200 million in punitive damages,
$59 million to Leon’s family,
$70 million to Angulo.
This ruling marks a significant moment for Tesla, especially as Elon Musk gears up to launch driverless taxi services later this year. Though Tesla claims its autopilot system has since evolved, this verdict is a chilling reminder of the risks that still shadow autonomous driving. The decision challenges the broader narrative that human drivers are solely to blame in such accidents and could pave the way for more victims to seek justice in court.