A Tesla car operating on its Autopilot software reportedly crashed into a stationary truck on a highway, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the effectiveness of the automaker’s driver assistance system.
The incident occurred when the Tesla was traveling in the middle lane and collided with the back of a parked Freightliner semi-truck in Pennsylvania, USA. The truck was providing traffic control for a right lane closure, as stated by the authorities.
Police stated that the car lost control due to being on Autopilot, leading to charges of “careless driving” against the 18-year-old male driver. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries resulting from the crash.
The incident adds to a series of investigations by US regulators into accidents involving Tesla vehicles on Autopilot colliding with parked emergency vehicles. In a similar incident in February, a Tesla Model S crashed into a stationary fire truck in Walnut Creek, California, tragically resulting in the death of the driver and triggering an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
