Table of Contents
The Incident
On August 18, 2025, Justine Saint Amour was driving her Tesla Cybertruck on Houston's 69 Eastex Freeway with autopilot engaged when the vehicle suddenly attempted to drive straight off a Y-shaped overpass instead of following the right-hand curve. Dashcam footage captured the Cybertruck barely turning before violently crashing into a concrete barrier, with parts flying off upon impact.
Injuries and Aftermath
Amour disengaged the driver-assistance feature just before the crash and tried to take control of the wheel, but the vehicle was already too far in motion for effective intervention. She sustained serious injuries including two herniated discs in her lower back, one in her neck, sprained wrist tendons, and nerve damage to her right hand causing numbness, burning, and weakness. Her 1-year-old child in the backseat was unharmed.
Something terrifying happened, without warning, the vehicle attempted to drive straight off an overpass.
Lawsuit Claims
The $1 million liability and negligence lawsuit filed in Harris County District Court alleges Tesla misrepresented its driver-assistance system's capabilities, was negligent in Autopilot design, and failed to include safety mechanisms like effective emergency braking or LiDAR. Tesla relies on cheap video cameras alone without LiDAR or a proper driver alert system.
Tesla’s decisions made Justine’s accident inevitable. This company wants drivers to believe and trust their life on a lie: that the vehicle can self-drive and that it can do so safely. It can’t, and it doesn’t.
Broader Context
The case follows Tesla's recent compliance with California regulations over misleading Autopilot marketing, rebranding features amid efforts to expand Robotaxi services like the steerless Cybercab. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
