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Tesla driver dies after crash in autopilot mode
CAR drives into truck while in self-driving mode in Florida.
By Craig Thomas
PUBLISHED: 10:53, Fri, Jul 1, 2016 | UPDATED: 11:11, Fri, Jul 1, 2016

A Tesla Model S was involved in a car crash whilst it was driving in Autopilot mode

A Tesla Model S has been involved in fatal crash in the US while driving in autonomous Autopilot mode, prompting questions about the safety of self-driving cars.

The collision occurred on May 7 in Williston, Florida when the car crashed into a truck, resulting in the death of the driver.

This is the first death linked to one of the brand's cars in what it claims is over 130m miles of semi-autonomous driving.
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In a blog post published yesterday on the company’s website, Tesla said: “What we know is that the vehicle was on a divided highway with Autopilot engaged when a tractor trailer [articulated lorry] drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S.

"Neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied.
"The high ride height of the trailer, combined with its positioning across the road and the extremely rare circumstances of the impact, caused the Model S to pass under the trailer, with the bottom of the trailer impacting the windshield of the Model S.”

Tesla believes that the advanced crash safety system fitted to the Model S would have prevented serious injury if the front of the car had the hit truck itself.

The customer who died in this crash had a loving family and we are beyond saddened by their loss

Tesla's Autopilot mode is still in beta (test) mode and the company reminds drivers that they should keep their hands on the wheel, pay attention to what’s happening on the road around them and be prepared to take control of the vehicle if required.

Tesla said in a statement: “The customer who died in this crash had a loving family and we are beyond saddened by their loss.

"He was a friend to Tesla and the broader EV community, a person who spent his life focused on innovation and the promise of technology and who believed strongly in Tesla's mission.

TESLA MODEL S INTERIORGETTY
The autonomous driving mode was activated when the car collided with a truck

TESLA MODEL SGETTY
This is the first death linked to one of the brand's cars

"We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”

The carmaker has informed the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has opened a preliminary investigation.