Man who Tragically Died in Florida Tesla 3 Accident was using Autopilot
According to an online news report at forbes.com, officials note that they are currently conducting an investigation of a deadly accident in Florida in which a driver of a Tesla Model 3 tragically died in an accident with an 18-wheeler. During the crash, the driver was using the semi-automated driving system. Neither the driver nor the auto-pilot system took proactive measures to avoid the collision.*
Per preliminary findings issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a fifty year old man crashed in Delray Beach when his Tesla 3 slammed into an 18-wheeler that crossed in his path on Florida State Highway 441 during the early morning rush hour. The Tesla 3 was going sixty eight miles per hour in an area where the speed limit was listed as fifty five miles per hour. The Tesla 3, during this time, struck the side of the 18-wheeler, which caused the Tesla’s roof to shear off. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured in the accident.
“Preliminary data from the vehicle show that the Tesla’s Autopilot system—an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that provides both longitudinal and lateral control over vehicle motion—was active at the time of the crash,” the preliminary report said. “The driver engaged the Autopilot about 10 seconds before the collision. From less than 8 seconds before the crash to the time of impact, the vehicle did not detect the driver’s hands on the steering wheel.”
The accident is one of two deadly Tesla crashes in Florida. The NTSB is currently investigating the crash. Just one week earlier than the most recent crash, a man who was driving a Tesla Model S lost control of his vehicle in Davie, Florida where he crossed across three traffic lanes and hit into trees located in the median. The accident, which killed the man, caused damage to the vehicle’s battery pack. As a result of the impact of the accident, the vehicle became engulfed in flames. In this accident, the Tesla’s auto-pilot was engaged at the time of the crash. According to an evaluation of this accident, the driver removed his hands from the wheel when the crash happened, per the NTSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Both accidents listed above are currently under investigation. There are no further details available on the crashes at this time.
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Source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2019/05/16/investigators-say-tesla-model-3-driver-killed-in-florida-crash-used-autopilot/#59ea736a77d5