Auto • Jul 03, 2025

Tesla's autonomous feature leads to train collision

A Tesla running on self-driving mode accidentally rolled onto train tracks and got hit by a freight train in Pennsylvania.
Thankfully, the family inside wasn't hurt, but the car was left unattended just before things went sideways—raising more questions about how much we can trust self-driving tech.

TL;DR

Getting the car off the tracks was tricky

Local fire commissioner Jared Renshaw confirmed it was the first time something like this happened in their area with Tesla's autonomous mode.
Getting the car off the tracks was tricky because of its lithium battery—a crane had to be used instead of towing to avoid fire risks.
With Tesla rolling out Robotaxis elsewhere, incidents like this are making people think twice about how ready self-driving cars really are.