A suspected drunk Tesla driver has been arrested after allegedly passing out while on Autopilot

After she collided with a California freeway barrier, a Telsa driver was taken into custody for drunken driving.
Karla Villanueva was reportedly the woman who had fallen asleep while driving on Autopilot.

Her husband was behind her and reported that her wife was "insomniac" in her car.

Check out more stories from Insider's business page.

10 Things in Tech: Keep up-to-date with the latest tech trends and innovations. Loading... Click to sign up for Insider marketing emails. You also agree to receive partner offers.

Authorities said that a Telsa driver was taken into custody for drunken driving after hitting a Southern California freeway barrier on Thursday.

According to the Associated Press, Karla Villanueva was reported as having fallen asleep while driving her Tesla on Autopilot.

Villanueva's Tesla struck a wall late Thursday night, then continued moving until a California Highway Patrol vehicle pulled up in front of it. It then slowed down and stopped. Villanueva was then woken by authorities.

According to audio taken from a dispatch call by KABC TV, her husband was behind her and reported to dispatcher that his wife was "unconscious" in a Tesla and that the vehicle was "driving itself."

Villanueva was taken into custody Thursday and released on her own recognizance Friday.

She will appear in court on January 20, 2022. It was not immediately clear if she had an attorney to represent her.

Tesla crashes have been under scrutiny in recent months after several fatalities occurred while Tesla cars were on Autopilot. This enabled the vehicle to automatically steer, accelerate and brake within its lane.

Since 2016, at least three Tesla drivers died while using Autopilot.