ROME – The US automobile safety agency said it will send an investigative team to investigate an accident involving a Tesla suspected of being in “Autopilot” mode when it hit a Michigan State Police patrol car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it will send a Special Crash Investigation (SCI) team due to its authority “on the safety of all motor vehicles and related equipment, including automated technologies.”
In the incident in question, a Tesla driver who later said the car was in “Autopilot” mode struck a police Dodge Charger sedan as officers were investigating an accident between a deer and another vehicle. as reported by the Michigan State Police on Twitter. The police car was stationary with the hazard lights on, Lieutenant Brian Oleksyk confirmed in an email to “CNBC”. Officials said no injuries were sustained by the agents or the anonymous 22-year-old Tesla driver. The driver told police that the vehicle was running on the “Autopilot”, according to Oleksyk.
The incident took place in Eaton County, located northwest of Detroit. On Monday, the NHTSA said it would send another team to investigate a March 11 accident in Detroit in which a Tesla got stuck under the trailer of an articulated truck. Detroit police said Tuesday that they do not believe Autopilot was in use during the March 11 incident based on “all indications”.
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