Tesla owner lets his car drive him to the hospital after he suffers pulmonary embolism
- 8 years ago
BRANSON, MISSOURI — A Tesla Model X driver who suffered a pulmonary embolism was saved by the vehicle’s autopilot function when it took him to the hospital in time for treatment.
Tesla Model X owner Joshua Neally was driving from Springfield, Missouri to Branson on Tuesday afternoon for his 4-year-old daughter’s birthday when he experienced a stabbing pain in his chest caused by pulmonary embolism, local NBC affiliate KY3 reported.
Suffering what he told KY3 was “excruciating” pain, the 37-year-old attorney activated his car’s autopilot system and let the vehicle drive him to a nearby hospital for treatment. He then parked the vehicle himself in the parking lot and checked in to the emergency room, Neally told Slate.
Neally was promptly treated by the medical staff and was able to return home later evening.
The news comes at a good time for Tesla, after its autopilot function led to two recent crashes. In May, a Tesla driver in Florida died when neither he nor the car’s autopilot was able to detect a truck in its path. And last month, a Tesla Model X driving on autopilot swerved and hit wooden rails on a road in Montana.
Tesla Model X owner Joshua Neally was driving from Springfield, Missouri to Branson on Tuesday afternoon for his 4-year-old daughter’s birthday when he experienced a stabbing pain in his chest caused by pulmonary embolism, local NBC affiliate KY3 reported.
Suffering what he told KY3 was “excruciating” pain, the 37-year-old attorney activated his car’s autopilot system and let the vehicle drive him to a nearby hospital for treatment. He then parked the vehicle himself in the parking lot and checked in to the emergency room, Neally told Slate.
Neally was promptly treated by the medical staff and was able to return home later evening.
The news comes at a good time for Tesla, after its autopilot function led to two recent crashes. In May, a Tesla driver in Florida died when neither he nor the car’s autopilot was able to detect a truck in its path. And last month, a Tesla Model X driving on autopilot swerved and hit wooden rails on a road in Montana.