NEWARK, N.J.—Tesla Inc. is confronting a high-stakes wrongful death lawsuit following a catastrophic crash involving its Model S sedan in Newark, New Jersey, last month. The collision, which authorities say occurred while the vehicle’s Autopilot system was engaged, killed three people and reignited debates about the safety of semi-autonomous driving technology.
According to police reports, the May 17 incident unfolded around 10:30 p.m. when a 2023 Tesla Model S veered off the road at high speed on Interstate 95, striking a concrete barrier before colliding with a parked construction vehicle. All three occupants—identified as 42-year-old driver Marcus Rivera, his wife Elena, 39, and their 14-year-old son—died at the scene. Preliminary investigations suggest the car’s Autopilot feature was active during the crash, though Tesla has not publicly confirmed this.
The Rivera family’s estate filed the lawsuit Monday in New Jersey Superior Court, accusing Tesla of gross negligence, defective Autopilot design, and misleading marketing that overstates the system’s capabilities. The complaint alleges that Autopilot failed to detect stationary obstacles despite clear weather conditions and well-marked construction zones. It also cites Tesla’s decision to disable radar sensors in newer models, relying solely on cameras—a cost-cutting move critics argue compromises safety.
"Tesla has repeatedly prioritized profits over lives by beta-testing unproven technology on public roads," said attorney Deborah Lin, representing the victims’ relatives. "This wasn’t an isolated failure but the result of systemic flaws Tesla has ignored for years."
Tesla, which dissolved its public relations department in 2020, did not respond to requests for comment. The company’s 2024 user manual states Autopilot requires "active driver supervision" and may not detect "stationary vehicles or objects."
The lawsuit arrives amid heightened scrutiny of Tesla’s driver-assistance systems. Since 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has investigated over 1,000 Autopilot-linked crashes, including 29 fatalities. In April 2025, federal regulators upgraded their probe into 500,000 Tesla vehicles, citing "inadequate safeguards against driver inattention."
Industry experts warn this case could set a precedent. "Juries are increasingly skeptical of ‘blame-the-driver’ defenses when automakers market systems as ‘self-driving,’" noted autonomous vehicle analyst Priya Sharma.
For further details on the legal claims, see the full complaint documentation here.
The Rivera family seeks unspecified damages, including punitive penalties. The case is expected to test New Jersey’s product liability laws, which hold manufacturers accountable for "foreseeable misuse" of technology—a potential vulnerability for Tesla as it faces 40+ pending Autopilot lawsuits nationwide.
As the litigation unfolds, the tragedy underscores a critical question: When innovation outpaces regulation, who bears the cost of progress?
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