Troopers said the Model Y was in Autopilot mode before it left Overpass Road.
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — An 87-year-old Wesley Chapel man died after his Tesla Model Y left Overpass Road, struck an electrical box and entered a pond Tuesday night in Pasco County, state troopers said.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the SUV was traveling east shortly after 8 p.m. May 26 near Infinite Drive. Troopers said the vehicle was in Autopilot mode when it went off the road. The driver later died at a hospital. A 75-year-old Wesley Chapel woman riding with him was hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The crash happened east of Infinite Drive, where the Tesla left the roadway, hit an electrical box and continued into the water, according to troopers. Emergency crews responded after the SUV became submerged in the pond. Officials did not release the names of the driver or passenger. Troopers also did not say whether speed, weather, road design or driver action played a role in the crash.
Images released by the Florida Highway Patrol showed the damaged SUV after it was pulled from the pond. The crash drew attention because troopers identified Autopilot as active before the vehicle left the road. Tesla describes Autopilot as a driver-assistance system, not a fully self-driving system, and says drivers must stay alert and ready to take control.
The crash remains under review by the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers have not announced charges or a final finding on what caused the Tesla to leave Overpass Road. Investigators are expected to examine the vehicle, road conditions and available electronic data as they work to determine the sequence of events.
Overpass Road runs through a growing part of Wesley Chapel, where new neighborhoods, ponds and utility equipment sit near busy local roads. The crash added to broader scrutiny of driver-assistance systems after federal regulators previously examined whether Tesla’s Autopilot safeguards were enough to keep drivers engaged behind the wheel.
No further update on the passenger’s condition was released. The next public milestone is expected when troopers complete more of the crash investigation or issue an updated report.
Author note: Last updated May 30, 2026.