Based on a recent report from The Washington Post, Hans von Ohain, a Tesla recruiter, tragically lost his life in a car accident on a Colorado mountain road.
His Tesla Model 3 veered off the road and collided with a tree, resulting in a devastating fire.
Erik Rossiter, a witness to the 2022 crash, informed first responders that Ohain had been utilizing the auto-drive feature on the Tesla when the vehicle veered off the road, according to reports.
If Rossiter’s claims are accurate, the incident, which Tesla has yet to publicly address, would mark the first reported fatality associated with the car company’s Full Self-Driving technology.
Although Ohain was under the influence at the time of the crash, with a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, investigators determined that the incident was not a typical case of drunken-driving.
Sgt. Robert Madden from the Colorado State Patrol informed the Post that no skid marks were found at the scene, suggesting that the vehicle did not attempt to brake before the collision.
However, there were “rolling tire marks,” indicating that power was still being applied to the wheels after the accident.
According to the Post, Ohain’s cause of death was attributed to smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Madden mentioned that he could have potentially survived the crash if the flames were not as intense.
Read more: Kansas City Mother Charged After Infant’s Oven Death
Tesla’s Silence on Ohain’s Demise
However, Tesla has not addressed Ohain’s death, leaving the individual to express their belief that they were used as test subjects, dealing with the flaws in the technology while being falsely assured of their safety.
Bass stated to the Post that regardless of Hans’s level of intoxication, Musk has asserted that the car can autonomously drive and outperform humans, leading to a false sense of security.
Business Insider’s request for comment from Bass and Tesla remains unanswered.
There have been several crashes, including some fatal incidents, associated with Tesla’s Autopilot technology, which is primarily intended for use on highways.
However, Tesla has not been held accountable for these accidents.
However, it should be noted that there have been no confirmed fatalities directly linked to the Full Self-Driving technology, which is designed to navigate Tesla vehicles through a wide range of situations.
According to a report by The Post, a Tesla driver was involved in a serious accident on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in November 2022.
The driver claimed to be using Full Self-Driving technology, and there were multiple injuries as a result of the eight-car pile up.
This incident could potentially be the first known fatality associated with this technology.
