A Second Tesla Crash Attributed To Autopilot Mode

News of a fatal accident involving a Tesla in autopilot mode was disclosed last week.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is “collecting information” from the electric-car maker, state police and the driver of the Model X about the July 1 crash, the agency said in a statement Wednesday.

This morning, Tesla told us that it had “no data to support” that Autopilot was engaged, but they just upgraded their statement to say that they have “no reason to believe that Autopilot has anything to do with this accident”.

Tesla also said they have tried to contact Scaglione three times and are unable to investigate further until the driver cooperates with the investigation. But the Pennsylvania crash added to concerns that the self-drive system is encouraging drivers to take their hands off the wheel for extended periods even though the auto can not sense and avoid all dangers.

A Detroit man informed police his 2016 Tesla Model X was in autopilot mode when it crash and rolled over on the Pennsylvania Turnpike last Friday.

Vukovich filled out a crash report, and according to the Detroit Free Press, Vukovich stated that, “Scaglione’s vehicle was traveling east near mile marker 160 at about 5 p.m. when it hit a guard rail off the right side of the roadway”. Federal safety regulators are investigating the May 7 crash, in which a Tesla Model S hit a semi-tractor’s trailer without every trying to brake.

We received an automated alert from this vehicle on July 1 indicating airbag deployment, but logs containing detailed information on the state of the vehicle controls at the time of the collision were never received.

Pennsylvania State Trooper Dale Vukovich said Scaglione’s vehicle plowed through the guardrail into the eastbound lanes before striking a concrete median, rolling onto the roof and coming to rest in a lane near mile marker 160.

Neither Scaglione or family members have responded to Free Press requests for interviews.

Tesla has stressed that the driver is ultimately responsible for controlling a vehicle while in Autopilot and that the driver would be held liable in the event of a crash. “No data at this point to indicate that Autopilot was engaged or not engaged”.