U.S. regulators have identified a 12th crash involving an emergency vehicle and a Tesla with its Autopilot system enabled.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that the accident occurred in Orlando this past Saturday. At the time, a Florida Highway Patrol officer had pulled over a Mercedes-Benz SUV in his Dodge Charger patrol car when a white Tesla Model 3 slammed into both vehicles. The driver of the Tesla told the officer that she had enabled the car’s Autopilot system shortly before the collision.
Read More: Tesla Model 3 With Autopilot Enabled Slams Into Florida Police Cruiser
A police report released on Wednesday revealed that the trooper “narrowly missed being struck as he was outside of his patrol car,” Reuters reports.
Happening now: Orange County. Trooper stopped to help a disabled motorist on I-4. When Tesla driving on “auto” mode struck the patrol car. Trooper was outside of car and extremely lucky to have not been struck. #moveover. WB lanes of I-4 remain block as scene is being cleared. pic.twitter.com/w9N7cE4bAR
— FHP Orlando (@FHPOrlando) August 28, 2021
In response to the accident, the NHTSA has sent an 11-page letter to Tesla’s director of field quality, Eddie Gates, demanding the car manufacturer answers dozens of questions. All answers must be provided by October 22, 2021 and if Tesla fails to comply, it could face a maximum penalty of up to $114,954,525.
The NHTSA has earlier said it was aware of 17 injuries and one death related to the 11 previous crashes involving Autopilot and emergency vehicles. The death occurred when a Model 3 slammed into a parked fire truck in Indiana. The agency notes that most of the 12 incidents occurred after dark and in its request for information to Tesla, asked for details explaining how the Autopilot system detects and responds to emergency vehicles, flashing lights, road flares, cones, barrels, and low light conditions.
