Tesla Autopilot Crash: Stationary Truck Providing Traffic Control Hit by EV Using Automated Tech

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 27 June 2023, 10:06 pm

A Tesla using Autopilot on the I-76 traveling eastbound crashed into a stationary truck, as it provides assistance to the traffic due to a highway closure. The Tesla collided with the truck and did not anticipate a stop, with the driver claiming that he lost control as the vehicle was in Autopilot mode and took over the driving along the way.

This adds another crash to the controversial Tesla automated driving system which has been under deep waters for a long time now, because of its allegedly faulty technology.

Tesla Autopilot Crash: EV Collides with Stationary Truck

(Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The Pennsylvania State Police released the crash report of the Tesla crash on I-76 last Friday, June 23, where the EV using the Autopilot collided with a parked truck. The truck was meant to be stationary as it provided traffic control to redirect drivers onto other lanes as the highway had road closures on the right-hand side for paving details.

Its driver, David Clough, 18, was driving a 2016 Tesla electric vehicle and reportedly utilizing its Autopilot mode when driving on the highway. Clough claimed that he was using the Autopilot technology during the crash, inadvertently hitting the stationary car.

The State Police later charged Clough with careless driving, despite his claims of using the Tesla-made automated driving system.

Tesla Owner Lost Control Because of Autopilot

According to Ars Technica, Clough claimed that he "lost control" as the Autopilot system was engaged to take over the wheel.

However, Autopilot remains an assistive technology, and any human interventions would result in giving back the controls to the driver. The report did not reveal the severity of the crash, but no other motorists were involved.

Additionally, both Clough and the truck driver did not suffer from any injuries.

Tesla Autopilot's Issues

In the past months, there have been significant scrutinies against Tesla and its automated driving assist systems, both the Autopilot and the FSD, to have flaws. These flaws are not minor, as they caused significant accidents in different parts of the country, with some cases leading to fatalities, recently disclosed by the company.

Different authoritative bodies like the NHTSA and more have started a string of investigations against Tesla's allegedly faulty systems, particularly for the accident cases. Federal and state investigations are now looking into the many accidents involving Tesla's Autopilot, with some already criticizing the company's claims regarding its automation.

While Tesla claimed that the Autopilot was meant to be used by an attentive driver who is ready to intervene at any time, many drivers still use the automated driving system to control the car for them entirely. The recent accident claimed that Autopilot took over the car and the owner lost control of what happened, and this may open up another probe against Tesla.