49ers coach Kyle Shanahan says he was using Tesla autopilot when he crashed
Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, said he was on autopilot in his Tesla when a July 14 accident caused a concussion, broken ribs and a broken hand, and he expects to return to full coaching duties soon.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed his July 14 car crash for the first time since training camp began, saying he is nearing full strength and intends to coach the team’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.
Shanahan disclosed that he was using the autopilot feature in his Tesla Model S when the collision occurred after he dropped his phone and looked away from the road. He said he has used some form of autopilot for nine years and feels "pretty comfortable" with the technology, but was unsure whether a malfunction or an accidental deactivation caused the crash.
The accident left Shanahan with a concussion, three broken ribs and a broken left hand, prompting him to scale back certain coaching duties while he recovers.
"Anytime you cause an accident that can be avoided, you feel pretty stupid, especially when you have a chance to hurt someone else," Shanahan told reporters via ESPN.
"Who knows what happened when I turned around, whether [autopilot] malfunctioned or whether I knocked it off I don't know yet. But regardless, it's always your fault. Whether you're on autopilot or not, you can't take your eyes off the road. It's a partnership, driving, you don't just turn it over to a computer," he added.
Shanahan also clarified that he, not the 21-year-old driver of the other vehicle, crossed into oncoming traffic. He said he is limiting his daily presence at the facility to focus on recovery, noting that his routine of reviewing extensive film can resume once his health improves.