U.S. regulators sent a team to investigate the fatal crash of a Tesla in a Houston suburb where, according to local authorities, no one was behind the wheel.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said today it sent special equipment to Spring, Texas, to investigate the electric car accident. on Saturday night.
Investigators are “100% sure” no one was driving the 2019 Model S that veered off a residential road, crashed into a tree and burst into flames, killing two men inside, the officer said. Harris County, Mark Herman.
Tesla with autopilot is now approaching about ten times fewer accidents than the average vehicle https://t.co/6lGy52wVhC
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 17, 2021
But authorities are still trying to determine if the car was operating with the Autopilot, which assists the driver, or with the “Full Self-Driving Capability” system of total autonomy.
One of the men was found in the co-pilot’s seat and the other was in the back seat, Herman told AP.
The NHTSA said today they are working with local authorities to learn more about the details of the crash.
Tesla has had serious problems with its semi-automated Autopilot system, which has been involved in several fatal crashes where it failed to detect trailers, stopped emergency vehicles or a barrier on the road. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that NHTSA and Tesla limit the roads where the Autopilot can operate safely, and that the company also install a system. more robust to monitor drivers and make sure they are paying attention. But neither Tesla nor the regulatory agency took action.
Tesla has not commented on today’s NTSHA announcement. The company has said in the past that drivers using Autopilot must be prepared to intervene at any time and that the “Full Self-Driving Capability” system must also be continuously monitored by drivers.