Shanahan to coach 49ers preseason opener after July crash

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he expects to be on the sideline for the team's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, August 13, as he continues to recover from a serious car accident that occurred last month. Speaking to reporters for the first time since the incident, Shanahan revealed that his Tesla was operating on its Autopilot driver-assistance system at the time of the July 14 crash in Palo Alto, California, though he maintains full responsibility for the collision.

The accident occurred when Shanahan's vehicle crossed a double yellow line and collided head-on with another car. Shanahan explained that his phone had fallen between the seats, and he turned to retrieve it, taking his eyes off the road. He said he is unsure whether he accidentally disengaged the Autopilot system or if it malfunctioned during the moment he looked away. "Who knows what happened when I turned around? Whether it malfunctioned or whether I knocked it off? That's something I don't know yet," Shanahan said. "But regardless, it is always your fault, whether you're on Autopilot or not. You can't take your eyes off the road."

The collision left Shanahan with a...