SAN FRANCISCO — A woman was arrested after running a red light in a rented Tesla in San Francisco and causing a crash that killed Benjamin Dean of Clovis and critically injured his wife, Kelly, authorities said Monday.
The Clovis couple was in San Francisco celebrating their third wedding anniversary, according to Kelly Dean’s Facebook page.
Benjamin Dean was a program supervisor at the Fresno County Department of Social Services. Kelly works for the agency as well.
Related Story: Police Say Tesla in Crash Killing Clovis Man Not on AutoPilot
Was Car Using Its Partial Self-Driving System?
Officers are investigating whether the Tesla, which was rented through the peer-to-peer car rental service Get Around, was operating in “Autopilot,” a partially self-driving system, when the collision occurred.
Tesla’s Autopilot had been activated at the time of two separate fatal crashes in Florida.
Get Around spokeswoman Joan Wickham said the company is cooperating with authorities and couldn’t comment further “out of respect for the families involved and the investigation underway.”
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Car Struck the Deans While They Were in a Crosswalk
The 22-year-old suspect, who has not been identified, was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and running a red light, police said.
Drugs and alcohol did not appear to be a factor. The woman was driving Sunday at least 45 mph in an area with a speed limit of 25 to 30 mph, when she ran the red light and was broadsided by another car, San Francisco police Sgt. Frank Harrell told KGO-TV.
The Tesla struck the couple in a crosswalk, killing Benjamin Dean, 39.
Get Around says on its website that all its rentals are insured through its primary insurance policy.
