Tesla Model S Update: Auto-Pilot Accident A Recall Precursor? Driver Watching 'Harry Potter' Film?

Tesla Model S with the Autopilot system activated was the first recorded case of a fatal crash. Tesla company released on a blog post that they have informed the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the fatal accident under investigation.

In Florida, Joshua Brown a 40-year old truck driver from Ohio, was involved in the Tesla Model S accident. He was injured, Legacy reported. Tesla claims that the autopilot has been used for over 130 million miles and emphasizes that on average, fatalities occur every 94 million miles and 60 million miles in the US and worldwide, respectively.

The Tesla Model S accident happened on a divided highway in central Florida. A tractor trailer drove crosswise to the highway adjacent to the Tesla Model S. Tesla noted that neither the driver of the Tesla Model S nor the car on autopilot noticed the tractor on broad daylight. The driver was not able to hit the brakes; hence, the incident.

Due to the trailer's positioning on the road, the car passed under the trailer, where the first impact was in between the car's windshield and the trailer. Tesla also noted that even if the car collided into the front or rear end of the trailer at high speed, injuries will be kept minimal as the car's safety system is programmed to prevent serious injuries. While Tesla was firm that the autopilot is improving all the time, there are still imperfections in it that need the driver to remain attentive at all times, Venture Beat reported.

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, tweeted that the vehicle's radar was not applicable in the case.

@artem_zin @theaweary Radar tunes out what looks like an overhead road sign to avoid false braking events

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 30, 2016

The Tesla Model S incident has Tesla declaring that the investigation being conducted by the NHTSA is only a preliminary evaluation to find out if the autopilot system was properly working. It may also be a recall precursor safety action.

According to a witness, the Tesla driver was watching one of the installments of the famous "Harry Potter" series when the accident happened.