The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is confirming a Tesla car was on autopilot during a deadly crash in March.
The accident happened in the southbound lanes of Highway 101 at Highway 85 when the Tesla Model X crashed into the barrier.
The car was hit by white Mazda and consequently struck again by a gray Audi before catching fire, CHP said.
The driver was taken to the hospital where he died.
“According to performance data downloaded from the crash vehicle, a 2017 Tesla Model X P100D, the driver was using traffic-aware cruise control and autosteer lane-keeping assistance, which are advanced driver assistance features that Tesla refers to as autopilot,” the NTSB report said.
A preliminary review of the Tesla’s recorded performance data showed:
- The Autopilot system was engaged on four separate occasions during the 32-minute trip, including continuous operation for the last 18 minutes and 55 seconds prior to the crash.
- In the 18 minutes and 55 seconds prior to impact, the Tesla provided two visual alerts and one auditory alert for the driver to place his hands on the steering wheel. The alerts were made more than 15 minutes before the crash.
- The driver’s hands were detected on the steering wheel for a total of 34 seconds, on three separate occasions, in the 60 seconds before impact. The vehicle did not detect the driver’s hands on the steering wheel in the six seconds before the crash.
- The Tesla was following a lead vehicle and traveling about 65 mph, eight seconds before the crash.
- While following a lead vehicle the Tesla began a left steering movement, seven seconds before the crash.
- The Tesla was no longer following a lead vehicle four seconds before the crash.
- The Tesla’s speed increased — starting three seconds before impact and continuing until the crash — from 62 to 70.8 mph. There was no braking or evasive steering detected prior to impact.
These details are based off of a preliminary investigation. The full investigation can take as long as two years to complete.