The investigation revealed that a 2022 Tesla Model S, which fatally struck a motorcyclist in the U.S. in April, was operating in self-driving mode.
Investigators from the Washington state patrol made this finding after accessing data from the event recorder, according to Captain Daion Glover, a spokesperson for the agency. He stated that the investigation is still ongoing, and the Snohomish County prosecutor is determining whether charges will be filed in the case.
After the accident, which occurred in a suburb about 24 kilometers northeast of Seattle, the driver told the patrol officer that he was using the Tesla autopilot system and was looking at his mobile phone while the car was in motion.
“The next thing he realized was the impact; the car lurched forward as he accelerated and collided with the motorcycle ahead,” the probable cause document stated.
The 56-year-old driver was arrested in connection with the investigation for "reckless driving while using the autopilot and being distracted by his mobile phone while driving." The motorcyclist, 28-year-old Jeffrey Nissen from Stanwood, Washington, was found under the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Nissen's death marks at least the second fatality in the U.S. linked to Tesla's Full Self Driving system. A total of 75 incidents involving the system have been reported, though it is unclear whether they were caused by the system itself.
Tesla claims that no system can drive a vehicle entirely on its own. A human driver must remain vigilant and be capable of taking control at any moment.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated last week that Full Self Driving should operate without human supervision by the end of this year. The company has been promising to create a fleet of robotaxis for several years. During a Tesla earnings call, Musk acknowledged that his previous forecasts on this matter were “too optimistic.”
Elon Musk announced that Tesla would unveil the robotaxi at an event on October 10. The event was postponed from August 8 to make changes to the vehicle. Earlier, Musk told investors that Tesla is more than just a car company; it is more of a robotics and artificial intelligence company. Many investors have backed the company based on the long-term potential of robotic technologies. Musk has promoted autonomous vehicles as a growth catalyst for Tesla since Full Self Driving became available for purchase in late 2015.
Source: Associated Press
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