Another Fatal Tesla Crash: Driver Killed in Stopped Model 3 on Phoenix Freeway with Autopilot Active

A second fatal incident has come to light involving a Tesla that was stopped on a freeway with its driver-assist system engaged. According to an ongoing investigation by Electrek, a 2020 Tesla Model 3 was sitting motionless in a lane on a Phoenix-area freeway at around 3 a.m. when a pickup truck rear-ended it. The driver of the Tesla died at the scene.

The troubling parallel to a previously reported Florida crash is striking: in both cases, the Tesla was stopped in a live traffic lane, and the driver was killed after being struck from behind. What makes these incidents even more concerning is that investigators reportedly were not aware that Tesla’s driver-assist features—Autopilot or Full Self-Driving—were active at the time. That crucial detail only emerged from Tesla’s own data, which the company has been accused of obscuring through redactions in its mandatory NHTSA crash reports.

Electrek’s investigation continues to uncover pattern of fatal crashes where Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance systems were in use, yet the public and even authorities were left in the dark. The automaker’s redaction practices have raised questions about transparency and safety accountability. As these cases mount, pressure is likely to grow on regulators to demand clearer disclosure and on Tesla to address the real-world risks of its driver-assist technology.

This report is part of an ongoing effort to track such incidents. For more details and updates, follow Electrek’s investigation hub.