A passenger survived after the SUV went off Overpass Road and became submerged.
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A Tesla Model Y operating in Autopilot mode drove off a Pasco County road and into a pond Tuesday night, killing an 87-year-old Wesley Chapel man, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The crash happened around 8:10 p.m. May 26 on Overpass Road, east of Infinite Drive. Troopers said the Tesla was heading east when it left the road, hit an electrical box and kept moving until it entered the pond. The driver was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
A 75-year-old Wesley Chapel woman who was a passenger in the SUV was also taken to a hospital. Troopers said her injuries were not life-threatening. Authorities did not identify either person. No other vehicles were reported in the crash, and officials did not report injuries to anyone outside the Tesla.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the SUV became submerged after entering the pond. The agency released photos from the scene showing the vehicle after it was removed from the water. Troopers have not said how long the SUV was submerged, who called 911 or whether the driver tried to regain control before the crash.
The use of Autopilot is a central fact in the investigation, but it does not by itself explain the crash. Tesla says Autopilot requires an attentive driver with hands on the wheel and does not make the vehicle autonomous. Federal regulators have previously reviewed Tesla’s driver-assistance systems after crashes involving Autopilot.
Investigators are expected to review the vehicle’s data, the condition of Overpass Road, the position of the electrical box and the path the SUV traveled before it entered the pond. Troopers have not announced a final cause. They also have not said whether the crash will be referred to another agency for further review.
The death marks another serious crash in a fast-growing area of Pasco County, where roadways run beside retention ponds and new development. As of Saturday, the Florida Highway Patrol had not released a final crash report.
Author note: Last updated May 30, 2026.