Kyle Shanahan says Autopilot was on in July crash
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said his Tesla was in Autopilot mode when he looked away for a dropped phone and caused a July collision.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Kyle Shanahan's Autopilot accident account is now public: the San Francisco 49ers coach says his Tesla was in Autopilot mode when he looked away from the road to reach for a phone that had fallen behind his seat.
Speaking Saturday in his first news conference since the July 14 collision, Shanahan said he was traveling at about 20 mph when the crash happened. He said he does not know whether the system malfunctioned or whether he accidentally disengaged it while reaching for the phone, according to an Associated Press report republished by KTSM.
Shanahan accepted responsibility for taking his eyes off the road. He said he had used Autopilot for nine years and was comfortable with it, but said drivers remain responsible and cannot hand driving over to a computer.
What did Kyle Shanahan say about Autopilot and the crash?
Shanahan said Autopilot was engaged before the collision, but he did not say the system caused it. He said he could not determine whether Autopilot malfunctioned or was turned off inadvertently while he was reaching for his phone.
The crash involved a vehicle driven by a 21-year-old woman in Palo Alto. Shanahan said he caused the collision after looking away, AP reported. The report said Shanahan was the only person hospitalized and police did not issue him a ticket for cellphone use.
The coach said an avoidable crash that could hurt another person left him angry at himself. His account does not establish a vehicle malfunction or provide a technical finding on the system's role in the collision.
Shanahan says he is close to full strength
AP reported that the crash left Shanahan with a concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken hand and more than 40 stitches for a cut above his eye. On Saturday, he said headaches and fatigue were the remaining concussion symptoms.
Shanahan said he is nearly fully recovered and intends to coach the 49ers' Thursday preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. CBS Sports reported that he has cut back some aspects of his usual coaching work during his recovery, while continuing to focus on film study and practices.
He said the 49ers' staff has allowed him to be patient as he works back to his normal routine.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.