A Tesla driver who falsely blamed her electric car’s Autopilot feature when she hit a nurse in a hit-and-run is facing jail time.
P-plater Sakshi Agrawal, 25, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury and failing to stop in Victoria County Court, just days before her trial began over the early morning crash in south-east Melbourne two years ago.
Nurse Nicole Lagos, then 26, spent a fortnight in an induced coma and suffered life-changing injuries after being hit at 58km/h and thrown 10 meters while boarding a tram on Wattletree Road in Armadale in March 2022.
Agrawal initially fled the scene in panic, but returned two hours later, where she was arrested by police.
The court heard that Agrawal initially told police the Tesla was on Autopilot and that its automatic braking failed when Mrs Lagos “jumped” in front of his car.
Sakshi Agrawal (pictured) will be sentenced in May for the 2022 hit-and-run
But further investigation revealed that the Autopilot function was not activated at the time, that an alert for a possible collision was activated moments before the crash and that there was no recording of braking.
Security cameras showed the $68,000 Telsa Model 3 overtaking several cars before ending up behind a busy tram that Agrawal tried to overtake when disaster struck.
Defense lawyer Nick Papas KC admitted his client had lied to police.
“The reality is that she was trying to rationalize her own behavior, trying to explain the inexplicable and how she could do such a thing,” he told the court.
The extent of Ms Lagos’ injuries was revealed in court on Tuesday, where her heartbreaking victim impact statement was read.
He spent two weeks in a coma induced by a traumatic brain injury at The Alfred, the hospital where he worked.
“When I woke up from the coma, I suffered from post-traumatic amnesia,” Ms. Lagos’ statement read.
‘It took me 30 days to be competent enough to remember things like the day of the week.
“I will have brain damage for the rest of my life.”
Sakshi Agrawal (pictured being questioned by police) initially fled the scene of the collision but returned two hours later.
CCTV captured the Tesla overtaking traffic before attempting to overtake the tram in front of it.
Before the collision, Lagos was going to the gym six days a week and training for a marathon.
She now has a minimal social life, low self-confidence, can’t concentrate for more than an hour at a time, and is worried about meeting her life partner and starting a family.
‘Life without dreams is pretty bleak. There is nothing to work for,” said Mrs. Lagos.
“Every time I pass a car or see a tram, it’s a reminder that this has happened to me.”
The dangerous driving charge carries a maximum prison sentence of up to five years and up to 10 years behind bars for failing to stop.
Papas argued for a non-custodial sentence and told the court that Agrawal was remorseful for her actions and had written two letters apologizing to Ms. Lagos.
Agrawal also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, the court heard.
Agrawal, who remains free on bail, will be sentenced next month.
He refused to answer questions from the media as he left the courthouse.
Sakshi Agrawal pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop days before her trial was to begin.
Nicole Lagos was on her way to work when she was hit by a Tesla while boarding a tram