Sakshi Agrawal, the owner of a Tesla Model 3, recently admitted guilt in a court case in Victoria, Australia, where she faced charges of dangerous driving and failing to stop after hitting nurse Nicole Lagos with her car. The incident took place on Wattletree Road when Agrawal struck Lagos, resulting in severe life-threatening injuries to the pedestrian who was on her way to work and attempting to board a tram.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Agrawal had initially falsely claimed that the car's autopilot mode was in use at the time of the crash, suggesting that the vehicle was responsible. However, crash analysis and police investigations uncovered that she had not slowed down before hitting Lagos, travelling at 58 kph and failing to apply the brakes in time. Moreover, data from the Tesla's telemetry indicated that the autopilot feature was not engaged just before the collision, contradicting Agrawal's statement.
Nicholas Papas KC, Agrawal's defense barrister, acknowledged that his client had lied about the autopilot being active and admitted that she was trying to justify her actions after the incident. Agrawal fled the scene initially but later returned, claiming that the pedestrian had suddenly appeared in front of her car, making it impossible for the autopilot to react or for her to brake in time. The court also heard how Agrawal's reckless driving behavior, including failing to slow down near trams as mandated by road rules, contributed to the tragic outcome that left Lagos with permanent disabilities, including brain damage.