The driver of a Mustang Mach-E who crashed into a stationary car in Texas in February was using Ford’s hands-free driver assistance system, BlueCruise, according to data obtained by the National Transportation Safety Board.
This tragic crash marks the first known fatality involving the use of BlueCruise, which was announced by Ford in 2021. This system allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on pre-mapped highways and utilizes eye-tracking technology to ensure their attention remains on the road.
The NTSB revealed that BlueCruise was activated during the Texas crash, just one day after announcing their investigation into a second fatal crash near Philadelphia where Ford’s driver assistance system may have also been in use. Ford had previously reported the Texas crash to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and stated they were actively researching all available information. No comment has yet been made by the company in response to this announcement.
This second crash, which involved a Ford vehicle colliding with two stationary cars, raises concerns about a potential issue similar to what Tesla has faced with their Autopilot system. NHTSA has been investigating multiple crashes involving Tesla drivers who were using Autopilot and collided with stationary emergency vehicles over the span of nearly three years.
The accident occurred just outside of San Antonio, where a 1999 Honda CR-V was stationary in the center lane of Interstate 10 with no lights on at around 9:50PM CT. The Mustang Mach-E crashed into the back of the Honda, causing it to flip over and end up in the left lane. The police report states that the Mustang driver had been operating the vehicle in BlueCruise mode prior to the crash. The 56-year-old driver of the Honda passed away after being transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center, while the Mustang driver only suffered minor injuries. Police confirmed that there were no signs of intoxication in the Mustang driver.
The NTSB has released a preliminary report on the crash and is continuing its investigation. A spokesperson stated that a final report should be available within 12 to 24 months. NHTSA is also looking into the Texas crash, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
