Self-driving Tesla car ‘goes crazy’ and nearly ploughs into a pedestrian as driver claims it automatically ‘sped up’ as he tried to park
A PEDESTRIAN was lucky to escape serious injury after a self-driving Tesla went rogue and reportedly “sped up” while its driver tried to park. The close call involving an electric Tesla Model X – which resulted in two vehicles being smashed – was captured on CCTV in front of a bakery in Puerto Rico. The footage […]
A PEDESTRIAN was lucky to escape serious injury after a self-driving Tesla went rogue and reportedly “sped up” while its driver tried to park.
The close call involving an electric Tesla Model X – which resulted in two vehicles being smashed – was captured on CCTV in front of a bakery in Puerto Rico.
The footage shows the small Tesla being driven forwards, into a space in Mayaguez, to park behind a white Toyota Tacoma.
But all of a sudden it careers into the rear of the vehicle, shunting it, before lurching into the path of a passing green ute, narrowly missing it.
The Toyota’s passenger appeared to emerge unharmed, as she dashed to safety onto the footpath.
Meanwhile, the apparently out-of-control Tesla heads towards the other side of the road, towards a man who is looking down at his mobile.
Video footage shows him look up, and leaping out of its path, throwing his body against a shop roller door, as the Telsa’s rear spins towards him, and just avoids crashing into him.
Then, as the vehicle turns around in circles, it smashes into a second parked vehicle.
The CCTV clip was published on Tu Noticia PR, which said the Tesla was “very close to causing injuries to a young woman getting out of the Toyota” and “extremely close to running over a person on the opposite sidewalk”.
The website said that the driver claimed the electric Tesla had suddenly accelerated in Saturday’s incident.
MODEL X ‘BUILT FOR SAFETY’
According to Tesla, the Model X is “built for safety with features and hardware built to provide visibility that a driver cannot access alone.
“Eight surround cameras allow for 360-degree vision, while 12 ultrasonic sensors provide detection of surrounding objects.
“Forward-facing radar sees through heavy rain, fog, dust and beyond the vehicle ahead, helping to prevent accidents by providing simultaneous visibility in every direction.
“Model X is the first SUV ever to achieve a 5-star US NCAP safety rating in every category and sub-category.”
The close-calls in Puerto Rico happened on the same day that a Tesla Model 3 electric car caught fire after crashing into a parked tow truck on a Moscow motorway.
In that incident the driver said he had failed to see the vehicle with which he collided.
Driver Alexei Tretyakov told REN TV that he was in a drive assistance mode, in which he was still holding the steering wheel.
Footage of the incident on state TV channel Rossiya 24 showed the Tesla engulfed in flames and thick black smoke.
Two small explosions occurred within a few seconds of each other and the metal frame of the vehicle was all that remained after the fire.
Tretyakov said was driving at around 100km (62 miles) per hour – the speed limit – when the car crashed on its left side into the stationary tow truck that he hadn’t seen.
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Tesla Inc has stood by safety claims for its Model 3 in the face of regulatory scrutiny, while documents showed the top US automotive safety watchdog issued at least five subpoenas since last year seeking information about crashes involving the company’s vehicles.
The Sun Online has approached Tesla for comment on the Puerto Rico collisions.
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