Amid ongoing concerns over advanced driver assistance systems, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has initiated an investigation into a fatal crash involving a Ford Mustang Mach-E equipped with BlueCruise technology in San Antonio, Texas.
The incident, which occurred on Interstate Highway 10, resulted in a collision between the Mach-E and a stationary Honda CR-V, tragically leading to the death of the CR-V’s driver, Jeffrey Allen Johnson of Austin.
Reports indicate that the Ford vehicle was operating with “partial automation” engaged at the time of the accident. Ford’s BlueCruise system offers advanced hands-free driving capabilities on a majority of highways without intersections or traffic signals in the U.S. and Canada.
The NTSB’s interest in advanced driver assistance systems and their interaction with vehicle operators has prompted this investigation. Investigators will examine the wreckage, gather information about the accident site, and analyze the sequence of events leading up to the collision to determine the role of BlueCruise in the incident.
Ford, expressing condolences to those affected by the tragedy, has emphasized its commitment to safety and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
As per regulatory requirements, the automaker promptly reported the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), underscoring the industry-wide obligation to notify regulatory authorities of crashes involving advanced driver-assistance features.
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