U.S. traffic safety agencies probing 2 fatal Tesla crashes in Florida

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is investigating a fatal Tesla Inc Model S crash in Davie, Fla., last Sunday that killed the driver and resulted in a massive vehicle fire, the second fatal crash this week the agency is probing.

The agency and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said late on Friday they are sending teams to investigate the other fatal crash Friday in Delray Beach, Fla., of a 2018 Model 3 that crashed into a semi-trailer.

A NHTSA spokesperson confirmed Saturday the agency has an "ongoing investigation" into the earlier Tesla crash in Davie and "will take additional actions if appropriate." Tesla did not immediately comment Saturday.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Monday the 2016 Tesla Model S caught fire and burned the 48-year-old driver beyond recognition. The newspaper said the Tesla battery repeatedly caught fire after being transported to a towing facility.

Tesla struck tractor trailer

NHTSA, the auto safety regulator, can demand a recall if it believes a defect poses an unreasonable safety risk, while the NTSB makes safety recommendations.

NHTSA and NTSB have been investigating a number of crashes since 2017 that focus on two primary issues: the role of Tesla's driver assistance technology known as Autopilot in accidents, and some significant battery fires in the electric vehicles after crashes, including cases of batteries reigniting after accidents.

A report on Friday's crash released by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department did not indicate if the autopilot was engaged at the time of the crash that killed the 50-year-old Tesla Model 3 owner.

The report said the Tesla struck a tractor trailer and the roof was sheared off as it passed underneath the trailer and stopped about half a kilometresouth of the collision. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tesla advises drivers to keep hands on steering wheel

NTSB said it is sending a team of three to conduct a safety investigation, while NHTSA said Saturday it is sending a field team.

Some Tesla drivers say they are able to avoid putting their hands on the wheel for extended periods when using Autopilot, while Tesla advises drivers that they must keep their hands on the steering wheel and pay attention at all times while using Autopilot.

NHTSA is also probing the January 2018 crash of a Tesla vehicle apparently traveling in Autopilot that struck a fire truck in Culver City, Calif., a May 2018 crash in Utah of a Tesla in Autopilot mode and a May 2018 Tesla accident in Florida that killed two teenagers and injured another but was not in Autopilot mode.

The NTSB is investigating three earlier Tesla incidents being reviewed by NHTSA, as well as an August 2017 Tesla battery fire in California, in which an owner ran into his garage.

Friday's crash is similar to the first fatal Tesla crash linked to Autopilot.

In May 2016, a Tesla Model S driver was killed near Williston, Fla., using Autopilot when he slammed into a tractor trailer that also sheared off the vehicle roof.

The NTSB said in 2017 Tesla lacked proper safeguards allowing the driver "to use the system outside of the environment for which it was designed and the system gave far too much leeway to the driver to divert his attention."

In January 2017, NHTSA said its review found no evidence of defects in the 2016 fatal Autopilot crash that would require a recall.

Tesla says its Autopilot software reduces a driver's "overall workload" and will "steer, accelerate and brake for you within almost any lane. It will also automatically change lanes on most highways to overtake other cars or navigate to interchanges and exits."

Tesla says the feature "should not be used on highways that have very sharp turns or lane markings that are absent, faded, or ambiguous."