The quick-thinking cops in Palo Alto decided to bring the bizarre situation to an end as quickly and safely as possible: they first established a moving perimeter far behind the Tesla to keep other drivers safe before one of the officers, who suspected that the vehicle’s autopilot system might be engaged, drove in front of the car and began gradually slowing down.
The formation reportedly travelled seven miles in seven minutes before the runaway Tesla finally came to a stop a short time after 3am local time on Friday. Officers could then finally question the dozing driver, who turned out to be 45-year old Alexander Samek, who serves on the Los Altos Planning Commission. “It took them awhile to wake him up,”Montiel told Palo Alto Online.