DUI Driver Falls Asleep On 101, His Tesla Stops For CHP: Cops

REDWOOD CITY, CA — A drunk man passed out in his Tesla on U.S. 101 in Redwood City on Friday, and was arrested after CHP officers conducted an operation to get his vehicle — which was believed to be in the 'driver assist' mode — to slow to a stop in the middle of the highway, the agency said.

It happened around 3:37 a.m. Friday on the southbound side of the highway, near Whipple Avenue, according to CHP Officer Art Montiel. A CHP team on patrol spotted a man, later identified as Alexander Joseph Samek of Los Altos, in a Tesla Model S going about 70 miles per hour and recognized something was off.

"The officers drove their patrol vehicle next to the Tesla and observed that Samek appeared to be asleep at the wheel," Montiel said.

The officers got behind the Tesla, and turned on their lights to initiate a traffic enforcement stop, according to Montiel. However, the driver "was unresponsive."

"Officers then positioned their patrol vehicle in front of the Tesla and began slowing directly in front of the Tesla in hopes that the 'driver assist' feature had been activated and therefore the Tesla would slow to a stop as the patrol vehicle came to a stop," Montiel said. "The Tesla came to a complete stop within the #3 lane of US-101 southbound, north of Embarcadero."

It wasn't until officers knocked on the window and gave "verbal commands" that Samek woke up, according to the officer. Officers loaded the 45-year-old into a patrol car, while the CHP drove the Tesla off the freeway.

Samek was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

"We cannot confirm at this time if the 'driver assist' feature was activated but considering the vehicle's ability to slow to a stop when Samek was asleep, it appears the 'driver assist' feature may have been active at the time," Montiel said.

The CHP is investigating the incident.

— Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone