The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating after a Tesla sedan crashed into the back of a fire truck on a California freeway while reportedly driving on Autopilot.
The accident took place on 405 Freeway near Culver City in Southern California on Monday morning.
The Culver City firefighters’ union said in an Instagram post that the Tesla – a black Model S sedan – ‘plowed into the rear of Engine 42’ while crews were responding to a motorcycle accident at around 8.30am.
Smashed: This Tesla Model S driving on Autopilot plowed into the rear of a Culver City, California, fire engine on Monday, prompting an NTSB investigation
The fire engine was on the freeway responding to an earlier motorcycle crash at the time of the collision with the luxury sedan, which resulted in no injuries
‘Amazingly there were no injuries!’ the post read. ‘Please stay alert while driving!’
According to officials, the luxury car was traveling at a speed of 65mph when it smashed into the back of the fire engine.
Culver City Fire Department Battalion Chief Ken Powell told the Mercury News that had there been any firefighters at the rear of the engine, there ‘probably would not have been a very good outcome.’
The severely damaged engine truck has been temporarily taken out of service so that it could be repaired.
The driver of the Tesla, which sustained extensive damage to its front, showed no major injuries and declined medical attention. There was no word on any charges in connection to the crash.
The collision on Tuesday drew the attention of the NTSB, which tweeted that two investigators were on their way ‘to conduct field investigation of the Jan. 22 crash involving a Tesla and fire truck, near Culver City, CA. Focus of field investigation is driver and vehicle factors.’
A local firefighters’ union shared news of the crash on Instagram, reminding drivers to ‘stay alert’
The starting price of a Tesla Model S is around $68,000. According to its owner manual, the vehicle comes equipped with a semi-autonomous Autopilot system.
It is noted in the manual, however, that the Autopilot ‘should still be considered a driver’s assistance feature with the driver responsible for remaining in control of the car at all times.’
In a statement released after Monday’s crash, a Tesla representative reiterated that Autopilot is ‘intended for use only with a fully attentive driver.’
NTSB investigated a May 2016 crash of a Tesla Model S in Florida that killed a driver using the vehicle´s Autopilot system.
The board concluded that design limitations of the Tesla Model S’s Autopilot played a role in the crash, along with the driver’s over-reliance on the new technology.
In its September 2017 report on the fatal accident, the NTSB recommended that automakers incorporate safeguards that keep drivers’ attention engaged and that limit the use of automated systems to the conditions for which they were designed.
Sleek: The starting price of a Tesla Model S is around $68,000, and the vehicle comes equipped with a semi-autonomous Autopilot system