A Plano Tesla driver narrowly avoided a collision with an oncoming DART train April 7 when the vehicle’s Full Self-Driving system suddenly engaged and accelerated through a lowered railroad crossing gate.
Joshua Brown was stopped at the crossing on 18th Street with the gates fully down and warning lights flashing. He told FOX 4 he had relaxed for a moment while waiting when the Tesla unexpectedly moved forward on its own.
The car snapped the crossing arm, sending glass from the shattered windshield into the cabin as the DART train barreled toward him. Brown cleared the tracks just in time and was not injured.
An Army veteran with more than 40,000 miles of experience using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving feature, Brown described the close call as rattling. “About the time I realized I was moving, the bar is right there, like right in front of me,” he said. “I’d rather somebody shoot at me than be looking at a train 100 feet away.” He added, “I feel blessed. I still have a purpose.”
The incident was captured on the Tesla’s cameras. Tesla took possession of the damaged vehicle for repairs and is investigating the cause. The company released a new version of its Full Self-Driving Supervised software the following day, claiming a 20 percent faster reaction time for improved safety.
No one was hurt and the crossing returned to normal operation. The event adds to broader questions about advanced driver assistance systems at railroad crossings, where federal regulators have examined multiple incidents nationwide. Tesla stresses that its technology requires active driver supervision at all times.
