alleged
Johna Story, 71, Arizona: family alleged Tesla's Full Self-Driving failed in low visibility
Johna Story had stepped out of her car to help direct traffic around earlier crashes caused by blinding sun glare when a Tesla Model Y using Full Self-Driving struck her at high speed. It is the fatal crash cited in NHTSA's investigation into FSD's performance in reduced-visibility conditions. Her daughter sued Tesla and the driver.
- Status
- Alleged, not proven
- Deaths
- 1
- Date
- 28 November 2023
- Place
- Arizona (highway between Flagstaff and Phoenix), United States
- AI system
- Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD Beta / FSD Supervised), Model Y
- Developer / operator
- Tesla
- Named
- Johna Story
Why this case is “alleged”
No court, coroner or official investigation has yet found that Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD Beta / FSD Supervised), Model Y caused or contributed to this death. The case is listed because it meets our standard for a credible allegation. It will move to the confirmed count only if an official body makes such a finding.
Legal status
Family's lawsuit against Tesla and the driver settled on undisclosed terms (reported 26 June 2026). NHTSA's investigation (PE24031, opened 17 October 2024; upgraded 18 March 2026 to Engineering Analysis EA26002) remains open.
Notes
Reported as the first known pedestrian death linked to Full Self-Driving. An open federal defect investigation is not a finding, so the case remains alleged.
Sources
- ODI Resume PE24031: FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
- ODI Resume EA26002
- Tesla settles lawsuit over fatal 'Full Self-Driving' pedestrian crash
- Tesla settles lawsuit tied to fatal 2023 FSD crash in Arizona