Lawsuit: Tesla autopilot feature accelerated on its own, causing crash

A 2017 Tesla Model S sedan on autopilot mode suddenly began to accelerate on its own as it headed toward a highway offramp, ran off the road and crashed into a tree, according to a lawsuit filed by the driver. Tesla’s autopilot mode, which the electric carmaker claims allows its vehicles to steer, accelerate and brake automatically in their lanes, is “at best a work in progress,” the lawsuit says. Christopher Hinze, of Washington D.C., is seeking an unspecified amount of damages from Tesla for liability, negligence and breach of warranty. His federal suit says Hinze suffered “catastrophic” inj...