DETROIT — The National Transportation Safety Board is looking into a deadly crash in San Antonio, Texas, involving a Ford electric vehicle that may have used a partially autonomous driving system.
According to early NTSB findings, a Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV equipped with the company’s partially automated driving system collided with the rear of a Honda CR-V that was stopped in one of the highway lanes.
The agency statement added, “The NTSB is examining this fatal incident because of its ongoing interest in advanced driver assistance systems and how vehicle operators engage with these technologies.”
Ford’s Blue Cruise system allows drivers to keep their hands off the steering wheel while it handles the steering, braking, and accelerating on the highway.
According to the business, the technology is not autonomous, and drivers are being watched to ensure they remain focused on the road. Ford says it runs on 97% of controlled access highways in the United States and Canada.
The NTSB said investigators will fly to San Antonio to examine the wreckage, gather information about the crash site, and investigate the circumstances leading up to the incident. A preliminary report should be available within 30 days.
