US probing Virginia fatal crash involving Tesla suspected of running on automated driving system
U.S. safety regulators have sent a team to investigate a fatal crash in Virginia involving a Tesla suspected of running on a partially automated driving system
DETROIT — U.S. auto safety regulators have sent a team to investigate a fatal crash in Virginia involving a Tesla suspected of running on a partially automated driving system.
The latest crash, which occurred in July, brings to 35 the number of Tesla crashes under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since June of 2016. In all the cases, the agency suspects the Teslas were operating on a partially automated driving system such as Autopilot. At least 17 people have died.
The safety agency said in documents Thursday that the Tesla ran beneath a heavy truck, but gave no further details.
The Fauquier County Sheriff’s office in Virginia said in a statement that on July 19, a Tesla ran underneath the side of a tractor-trailer pulling out of a truck stop, killing the Tesla driver. The department says the truck driver was charged with reckless driving.
Sheriff's office spokesman Jeffrey Long said the possible role of automated driving systems in the crash is under investigation. The sheriff's office «is investigating the crash to determine the cause and any potential culpability,” Long said in an email. “The NHTSA is also involved and will contribute their expertise toward any investigative conclusion.”
Messages were left Thursday seeking comment from Tesla.
Recent crashes NHTSA is investigating include a July 5 head-on collision between a Tesla Model 3 and Subaru Impreza in South Lake Tahoe, California. The driver of the Subaru and an infant traveling in the Tesla were killed.
NHTSA also sent investigators to a March 15 crash in Halifax
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