By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) – Detroit police said on Tuesday that they do not believe Tesla’s driver assistance system, Autopilot, was in use during an accident last week of a Tesla who was trapped under a trailer and left a passenger in critical condition. On Monday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was aware of the “violent accident” in Detroit on March 11 and a Special Accident Investigation (SCI) team would investigate.
Detroit Police Assistant Chief David LeValley said at a news conference on Tuesday “that all indications” are that Tesla was not in autopilot mode at the moment, citing statements made by the driver and evidence of video showing some evasive maneuvers before the accident.
The passenger is still hospitalized while the driver, who has already been hospitalized, is being accused of reckless driving, LeValley said, adding that speed was a significant factor in the accident.
NHTSA previously launched at least 14 special crash investigation teams after Tesla crashes that were suspected of being linked to its Autopilot driver assistance system, but has taken no action against the automaker as a result of these investigations.
NHTSA investigators will meet with Detroit police later this week to review data from the vehicle’s data recorder, LeValley said.
Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
The autopilot has been involved in at least three Tesla vehicles involved in fatal accidents in the U.S. since 2016.
NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board investigated other accidents in which a Tesla hit a trailer, including two fatal accidents in Florida.
Tesla advises drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and pay attention when using autopilot. However, some Tesla drivers say they can avoid putting their hands on the steering wheel for long periods when using autopilot. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Richard Pullin)