US agency investigates two deadly Tesla fatalities in Florida since last Sunday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US authorities have investigated a fatal accident involving motorist Tesla Inc Model S in Florida last Sunday, which killed the driver and caused a large-scale fire. NHTSA) said Saturday.

The Office and the National Transportation Safety Board announced Friday that they would send teams to investigate the other fatal accident Friday in Delray Beach, Florida, from a model 3 from 2018 which crashed on a semi-trailer.

An NHTSA spokesman confirmed Saturday that the agency had "an ongoing investigation" on the Sunday crash at Tesla in Davie, Fla., And "will take further action if necessary".

Tesla did not comment on Saturday immediately.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel announced Monday that the 2016 Tesla Model S caught fire and burned down the 48-year-old driver. According to the newspaper, Tesla's battery caught fire several times after being transported to a towing facility.

NHTSA, the automotive safety regulator, may require a recall if it feels that a defect presents an unreasonable risk to safety, while the NTSB makes safety recommendations.

NHTSA and NTSB have been investigating several accidents since 2017 that focus on two main issues: the role of Tesla driver assistance technology in accidents and some major battery fires in electric vehicles after accidents, including accidents. case of re-ignition of the batteries.

A report on the Friday accident issued by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department did not say whether the autopilot was engaged in the accident that killed the owner of Model 3, Tesla, 50 years old.

According to the report, the Tesla struck a semi-trailer and the roof was cut as it passed under the trailer and stopped three-tenths of a mile south of the collision. The driver was declared dead on the scene.

The NTSB sends a team of three to conduct a security investigation, while NHTSA sends a team to the field.

Some Tesla drivers claim that they are able to avoid putting their hands on the wheel for extended periods when they use the autopilot, while Tesla advises them to keep their hands on the steering wheel and to pay attention when they use the autopilot.

NHTSA is also investigating the crash of a seemingly autopilot Tesla vehicle that hit a fire truck in Culver City, California, in January 2018, on a May 2018 crash in Utah pilot mode. automatic and on an accident occurred in Florida in May 2018 teenagers and injured another, but was not in the autopilot.

The NTSB is investigating three pre-Tesla incidents examined by NHTSA, as well as a battery fire that occurred in August 2017 in California, in which an owner fell on his garage.

Friday's accident is similar to Tesla's first fatal autopilot accident.

In May 2016, a Tesla Model S driver was killed near Williston, Florida, under autopilot, when he crashed into a tractor-trailer that also cut off the roof of the vehicle. .

The NTSB said that in 2017, Tesla had not put in place security measures allowing the driver "to use the system outside of the environment for which it had been designed and that the system left the driver too much leeway to divert his attention. "

In January 2017, NHTSA stated that its review revealed no evidence of defects during the fatal autopilot accident in 2016 that would require a recall.

Tesla says its autopilot software reduces the driver's "overall workload" and "guides you, accelerates and brakes for you in almost every lane." It will also automatically change lanes on most highways to overtake other cars or access interchanges and exits. "

Tesla said the feature "should not be used on highways where turns or lane markings are very pronounced and are absent, vanished or ambiguous".