Elon Musk: Autopilot Wasn't Engaged In Fatal Manhattan Tesla Crash — Slams 'Legacy Media'

Tesla CEO Elon Musk pushed back against media coverage of a deadly Manhattan collision, saying the company's driver-assistance system was not engaged and arguing the crash would not have happened if Autopilot had been active.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sept. 9–10, 2026, when a Tesla Model Y struck scaffolding in Manhattan. According to reports from ABC News' New York station, the crash was logged at approximately 2:43 a.m. The vehicle's passenger, 27-year-old Elise Suomi, died at the scene; the driver, 27-year-old Alejandra Paharsingh, was injured and taken to a hospital. Authorities later arrested Paharsingh on charges that, according to the ABC report, include vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and driving while impaired.

Musk responded on X (formerly Twitter) to a now-deleted ABC post, accusing the outlet of "misleading the public" about the crash. Addressing another X user, he wrote:

"It wasn't the car. If Autopilot was in use, they would not have crashed."

In a separate post, Musk criticized mainstream news organizations, suggesting negative coverage stems in part from Tesla's decision not to buy traditional advertising: "The legacy media will never forgive Tesla for failing to advertise with them."

Context: Autonomy, Regulation and Ongoing Scrutiny

Musk has been promoting Tesla's Cybercab and the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) ambitions as part of a broader push toward autonomous transport. The Cybercab — showcased without a steering wheel or pedals — has been presented as a step toward a "golden era" of transportation.

Meanwhile, regulators remain cautious. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a probe into Tesla's Cybercab deployment in Austin, reflecting broader scrutiny of Tesla's autonomy claims and safety practices.

Market Notes

Benzinga Edge Rankings currently rate Tesla with moderate scores for Growth and Quality, but weak scores for Value and Momentum. The report also notes an unfavorable medium- and long-term price trend for TSLA.

Legal And Reporting Status

Investigations into the crash and the circumstances surrounding it are ongoing. Law enforcement and prosecutors will determine charges and potential liability as evidence — including vehicle data, witness statements and any available video — is evaluated.

Related / Sponsored Notes

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and included separate sponsored investment blurbs highlighting private real estate, energy infrastructure and consumer brands. Those items were promotional in nature and are summarized here as related, advertiser-supported content rather than editorial reporting.

Correction & transparency: An ABC News item about the crash was deleted and Musk's statements were posted to X on Sept. 9–10, 2026. We have retained reported charges and basic incident details as reported by ABC; readers should follow updates from law enforcement and official investigations for final findings.