---
title: "Tesla Model X, Reportedly on Autopilot, Hits Police Motorcycle in Arizona"
description: "The incident occurred on Utopia Road."
date: "2017-03-28"
modified: "2017-03-28"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/8707/tesla-model-x-reportedly-on-autopilot-hits-police-motorcycle-in-arizona"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Autopilot"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "luxury"
  - "model x"
  - "motorcycle"
  - "police"
  - "self-driving cars"
  - "suv/crossover"
  - "Tesla"
---

# Tesla Model X, Reportedly on Autopilot, Hits Police Motorcycle in Arizona

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/03/tesla.png>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

We are constantly told self-driving cars are the future, but for all the autonomous capabilities being added on high-end new cars, a machine that can handle 100 percent of your A-B trips while you take a nap [has yet to be developed](<https://www.thedrive.com/self-driving-cars/7324/the-way-we-talk-about-autonomy-is-a-lie-and-thats-dangerous>). Even the vaunted Tesla Autopilot, the company constantly reminds us, is designed to be used with a person's full attention (and hands on the wheel). So they're probably pretty annoyed that [another one](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/8030/watch-a-tesla-model-s-crash-into-a-barrier-on-autopilot>) of their drivers is in the headlines again, this time for almost running over a motorcycle cop in his allegedly Autopiloted Tesla Model X at the end of a highway off-ramp in Phoenix.

[According to a report](<https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2017/03/27/tesla-self-driving-car-hits-phoenix-police-motorcycle-second-accident-involving-automated-vehicles-days/99710786/>) by the *Arizona Republic*, the officer on the motorcycle departed the Black Canyon Freeway running ahead of the Tesla. The officer stopped at the light at the end of the ramp, waiting to merge onto Utopia Road. The Model X also came to a brief stop right behind the officer, but then moved forward unexpectedly. The officer ditched his motorcycle and jumped clear, and the Tesla struck it as it lay on the ground. No one was injured, and neither vehicle was reported damaged.

The driver told police the car was operating in Autopilot mode at the time—though they were unable to confirm that, and Tesla officials wouldn't comment to the *Republic.* If the driver is lying, it's a pretty dumb move considering a) it's a crime and b) Tesla loves nothing more than busting out the data [to prove its technology's innocence.](<https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4079060/South-Korean-singer-sues-Tesla-says-Model-X-SUV-sped-crashed-garage.html>) Their [website itself](<https://www.tesla.com/autopilot>) says that the car will transition control back to you as you exit the highway, so perhaps they're just letting the situation speak for itself.

Though police released this information this week, the incident actually took place last Tuesday, just a few days before a self-driving Uber SUV was [involved in a crash](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/8691/uber-resumes-self-driving-car-tests-following-weekend-crash>) in nearby Tempe. Uber resumed their autonomous testing on Monday after investigators found the other driver was at fault.

**UPDATE:** A Tesla spokesperson contacted *The Drive* with a request to add the following statement:

> Tesla company officials say that they have not received any report of such an incident.

> — Tesla

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)