Melbourne Driver Jailed After Blaming Tesla Autopilot For Hit-and-Run Incident

A  Melbourne driver, Sakshi Agrawal, has been sentenced to nine months in jail for a hit-and-run incident in 2022.

She struck nurse Nicole Lagos while boarding a tram in Armadale, Melbourne’s inner south-east. 

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Ms Agrawal, who fled the scene after the collision, had initially claimed that her Tesla was on autopilot at the time of the crash, but later pleaded guilty after two years of legal battles.

During the sentencing at the County Court of Victoria, Judge Peter Rozen said Ms  Agrawal made a conscious decision to undertake a dangerous manoeuvre on the road. 

The judge also highlighted Ms Lagos’s long-lasting physical and emotional trauma due to the incident, including permanent brain damage.

“You did not stop to assist as required by law and common decency,” Judge Rozen said.

Despite Ms Agrawal’s insistence on innocence and attempts to blame the crash on Tesla’s autopilot feature, the crash analysis revealed that autopilot was not activated at the time of the collision. 

Ms Agrawal failed to slow down before hitting Ms Lagos and fled the scene, reaching speeds of nearly 80 kilometres per hour. 

“I cannot be satisfied that you left the scene to protect yourself … I accept your counsel’s submission that you panicked.”

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