A tragic incident unfolded in Vallejo, California, where a 71-year-old man lost his life after being struck by a self-driving car while crossing a freeway. The accident occurred around 2:35 AM on Thursday on the westbound lanes of Interstate 80, near the Interstate 780 interchange, as reported by the New York Post.

According to preliminary investigations by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the vehicle was traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour when the man entered the freeway from the right shoulder. He began crossing towards the central divider when the self-driving car, operating in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode, collided with him. The driver, a 26-year-old man from San Francisco, stated that the vehicle attempted to avoid the pedestrian, as evidenced by the dashboard camera footage.

The CHP noted that the video indicated the car's brakes were applied, and it steered to the left in an effort to evade the man. Despite these evasive maneuvers, the right front portion of the vehicle struck the pedestrian. Following the initial impact, the man was reportedly hit by at least one other vehicle while lying on the freeway, but those motorists did not stop, and their identities remain unknown.

The driver of the self-driving car remained at the scene and cooperated fully with the authorities, providing them with the dashboard camera footage for review. The CHP is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and has called for witnesses or anyone with information about the other vehicles involved to come forward.

This incident has reignited discussions regarding the safety of driver-assistance technologies. Just earlier this month, another driver fell asleep while using the FSD mode, resulting in a collision with a highway patrol vehicle that injured two officers. In light of these events, the California Highway Patrol has emphasized that despite the name, Full Self-Driving is not equivalent to fully autonomous driving. They stressed that the responsibility for safely operating the vehicle remains with the driver, even when utilizing advanced driving technologies.

As investigations continue, the tragic loss of life serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges associated with self-driving technology, and the importance of maintaining vigilance while on the road.