According to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday, it has closed an investigation into a fatal Tesla crash from August of last year, reports Reuters.
A 2019 Tesla Model 3 was being driven in Saratoga, California, using the car’s Autopilot feature. The driver did a manual override and pressed the accelerator while on Autopilot. The 75-year old driver received numerous visual and audible alerts from the Tesla, as his cars were not detected on the steering wheel, while using the Autopilot system.
The Model 3 was travelling at 68 mph along Highway 85 when the driver sped up to 72 mph, but ahead of seeing a minivan, the Tesla’s Automatic Emergency Braking kicked in. But the driver pressed on the pedal to 95%, and the Model 3 subsequently rear-ended the minivan.
The driver in the Model 3 then exited the highway at Saratoga Avenue and reached 114 mph on the off-ramp, then shortly afterwards hit a pickup truck at 110 mph. The Tesla then caught on fire and the driver and his wife suffered fatal injuries.
One of the two pickup truck occupants saw life-threatening injuries, while the minivan driver was also injured.
The NTSB said the “investigation was initiated to support the NTSB’s interest in automated vehicle performance” but the conclusion has resulted in “no further action beyond this memorandum will be taken.”
Autopilot always requires Tesla owners to have their hands on the wheel, and to be ready to take over at any given time.
