A driver has been after an officer found him in the backseat of a Tesla traveling on a San Francisco Bay Area freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Param Sharma, 25, was arrested for the supposed reckless driving and disregarding a peace officer, the highway patrol said in a statement on Tuesday.
Multiple 911 calls Monday evening reported a person seated in the backseat of a Tesla Model 3 without anybody in the driver’s seat while the vehicle traveled on Interstate 80 throughout the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
A highway patrol motorcycle officer saw the Tesla, confirmed the only occupant was in the backseat, took action to stop the car, and observed the occupant move to the driver’s seat before the car stopped, said CHP.
“Prior to this arrest, members of the public had captured video of someone resembling Sharma operating his vehicle in the same reckless manner, and the CHP’s Oakland Area had cited Sharma on April 27 for similar behavior,” the statement noted.
The CHP said the incident is currently being investigated.
Tesla has frequently recommended not to entirely depend on autonomous features and ensure that the driver is always ready to intervene.
