49ers coach says his Tesla was on Autopilot when he crashed

# 49ers coach says his Tesla was on Autopilot when he crashed Source: [https://www.theverge.com/transportation/977155/49ers-coach-tesla-autopilot-crash](https://www.theverge.com/transportation/977155/49ers-coach-tesla-autopilot-crash) [Skip to main content](https://www.theverge.com/transportation/977155/49ers-coach-tesla-autopilot-crash#content) He still takes responsibility, saying ‘you don’t just turn it \[driving\] over to a computer\.‘ He still takes responsibility, saying ‘you don’t just turn it \[driving\] over to a computer\.‘ by Aug 9, 2026, 3:56 PM UTC   [](https://www.theverge.com/authors/terrence-obrien) Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor\. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths\. Four weeks ago, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was[involved in an accident](https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/kyle-shanahan-crash-autopilot-22380270.php?link_source=ta_thread_link&taid=6a77a64da76be20001a61f3b&utm_campaign=trueanthem%2B3988&utm_medium=social&utm_source=threads)near downtown Palo Alto\. At the time Shanahan said only that the accident was his fault\. But during a recent[press conference](https://www.threads.com/@maiocconbcs/post/DbzTCr5mokd)he shared more details about the incident, including the fact that he had his[Tesla’s Autopilot engaged](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/kyle-shanahan-says-his-tesla-was-on-autopilot-before-accident)at the time\. Shanahan was not passing the buck, however, saying it was his fault regardless of whether or not Autopilot was engaged\. > “I’ve had Autopilot for nine years, so I’m pretty comfortable with it and, you know, who knows what happened when I turned around? Whether it malfunctioned or whether I knocked it off? That’s something I don’t know yet\. But regardless, that’s… it is always your fault, whether you’re on Autopilot or not\. You can’t take your eyes off the road\. It’s a partnership driving, you don’t just turn it over to a computer\.” Over the years Tesla’s Autopilot has been[linked](https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/7/24151077/tesla-autopilot-nhtsa-recall-crash-data-request)to hundreds of[crashes](https://www.theverge.com/transportation/953449/was-this-tesla-driver-using-autopilot-when-he-crashed-through-a-brick-wall)and[dozens of deaths](https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/26/24141361/tesla-autopilot-fsd-nhtsa-investigation-report-crash-death), some of which have resulted in[hundreds of millions of dollars](https://www.theverge.com/news/717754/tesla-autopilot-crash-liable-jury-trial-damages)in[legal settlements](https://www.theverge.com/news/779850/tesla-settle-wrongful-death-autopilot-maldonado)\. **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Terrence O'Brien ## The Verge Daily A free daily digest of the news that matters most\.