Tesla Autopilot was on in I-35 crash that killed its driver

A Tesla crossed the grass median of Route 55 in New Jersey, hit a tree, slid into oncoming traffic, and struck an SUV head-on. The SUV’s driver, 68-year-old Phillip Eastman, was killed. Police reported it as a driver who lost control. What they didn’t say, and likely didn’t know, is that Tesla’s own report to federal regulators says the car’s driver-assist system was engaged. This is part of an ongoing Electrek investigation matching reported crashes to Tesla’s redacted NHTSA data.

July 2026 was the worst month on record for Tesla driver-assist crashes. Tesla reported 236 of them to federal regulators, the most it has ever filed in a single month. Four of those crashes killed someone. In every one, Tesla’s own data says Autopilot or “Full Self-Driving” was engaged, and in every one, the public was never told the system was involved. This is the latest from our ongoing investigation matching Tesla’s redacted NHTSA reports to real, named crashes. more…

A 2021 Tesla Model Y left an Alabama highway, hit two trees, and caught fire, killing its driver, 29-year-old Kayleigh Page. Her 7-month-old daughter was pulled from the burning car by a stranger who…

Nigel first entered the world of automotive journalism in the mid-80s, working for what was then the “bible” of weekly automotive content - Motoring News. Those were the days of tip-tap typewriters, landline telephones and proper news cycles. Social media was yet to become a modern-day plague and people waited for their automotive news until Tuesday mornings. Nigel has remained a gearhead since the early days in London. He's enjoyed a variety of roles in marketing, PR and events with such storied brands as Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini. He has spent much of adult life in the United States, but currently resides in (a much colder) United Kingdom.

Gilbert Smith is an automotive journalist with over five years of specialized research and writing experience. Before joining CarBuzz in 2024, he produced in-depth buyer’s guides and feature articles for Vehicle History, focusing on practical insights and detailed automotive analysis. Following the discontinuation of the EV credit and the industry-wide purge that followed, the BMW i4 closed out 2025 with lots full of old stock gathering dust and bleeding value on dealer lots. BMW may not be in desperation mode anymore, but you can still lease these cars for cheap.

Nigel first entered the world of automotive journalism in the mid-80s, working for what was then the “bible” of weekly automotive content - Motoring News. Those were the days of tip-tap typewriters, landline telephones and proper news cycles. Social media was yet to become a modern-day plague and people waited for their automotive news until Tuesday mornings. Nigel has remained a gearhead since the early days in London. He's enjoyed a variety of roles in marketing, PR and events with such storied brands as Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini. He has spent much of adult life in the United States, but currently resides in (a much colder) United Kingdom.