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NTSB: Driver Was Behind Wheel at Time of Texas Tesla Crash

8 points by infodocket 5y ago

breckenedge 5y ago
The NTSB report itself: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY21FH007.aspx https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY21FH007.aspx
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
toomuchtodo 5y ago
> With the assistance of the EDR module manufacturer, the NTSB Recorders Laboratory repaired and downloaded the fire-damaged EDR. Data from the module indicate that both the driver and the passenger seats were occupied, and that the seat belts were buckled when the EDR recorded the crash. The data also indicate that the driver was applying the accelerator in the time leading up to the crash; application of the accelerator pedal was found to be as high as 98.8 percent. The highest speed recorded by the EDR in the 5 seconds leading up to the crash was 67 mph. [3] > NTSB tests of an exemplar car at the crash location showed that Traffic Aware Cruise Control could be engaged but that Autosteer was not available on that part of the road. > No speed limit signs were posted in the crash area, but according to Texas Transportation Code 545.352, the speed limit for the road is 30 mph. Floored it through a turn and lost control. My wild speculation is driver showing passenger vehicle acceleration capabilities on a residential road.
jdsully 5y ago
They must have been trying to escape. The rear doors don't have mechanical releases, so your in a tough spot if the front doors fail to open for any reason and there is a fire. I don't know why they didn't include a mechanical release on the back.
- belter 5y ago
  Would one of these work with a Tesla? In many countries its strongly recommended to always have one inside the car. https://www.amazon.com/car-safety-glass-breaker/s?k=car+safety+glass+breaker https://www.amazon.com/car-safety-glass-breaker/s?k=car+safe...
- ajross 5y ago
  With all respect, the metasignificance of the linked article is that it's a factual refutation of wild speculation ("there was no one at the wheel!") that people were engaging in about this accident. And before the thing is even in the grave, you're launching into yet more wild speculation? I mean, is this based on something the NTSB considered?
  - jdsully 5y ago
    With all respect it scares the crap out of me that the rear doors of my car don't have a way to open without electricity. I don't like to carry passengers in the backseat for that reason, and I think its a much less far fetched explanation than not being at the wheel while driving.
    - ajross 5y ago
      None of that justifies the implication that these people died because they were trapped in the car. Again I point out that this kind of consideration is absolutely something the NTSB would have been empowered to investigate, and they didn't go where you wanted. So you went there anyway. How is that any better than "there was no one at the wheel!"

8 points by infodocket 5y ago

The NTSB report itself: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY21FH007.aspx https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY21FH007.aspx

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

toomuchtodo 5y ago

> With the assistance of the EDR module manufacturer, the NTSB Recorders Laboratory repaired and downloaded the fire-damaged EDR. Data from the module indicate that both the driver and the passenger seats were occupied, and that the seat belts were buckled when the EDR recorded the crash. The data also indicate that the driver was applying the accelerator in the time leading up to the crash; application of the accelerator pedal was found to be as high as 98.8 percent. The highest speed recorded by the EDR in the 5 seconds leading up to the crash was 67 mph. [3] > NTSB tests of an exemplar car at the crash location showed that Traffic Aware Cruise Control could be engaged but that Autosteer was not available on that part of the road. > No speed limit signs were posted in the crash area, but according to Texas Transportation Code 545.352, the speed limit for the road is 30 mph. Floored it through a turn and lost control. My wild speculation is driver showing passenger vehicle acceleration capabilities on a residential road.

jdsully 5y ago

They must have been trying to escape. The rear doors don't have mechanical releases, so your in a tough spot if the front doors fail to open for any reason and there is a fire. I don't know why they didn't include a mechanical release on the back.

belter 5y ago
Would one of these work with a Tesla? In many countries its strongly recommended to always have one inside the car. https://www.amazon.com/car-safety-glass-breaker/s?k=car+safety+glass+breaker https://www.amazon.com/car-safety-glass-breaker/s?k=car+safe...
ajross 5y ago
With all respect, the metasignificance of the linked article is that it's a factual refutation of wild speculation ("there was no one at the wheel!") that people were engaging in about this accident. And before the thing is even in the grave, you're launching into yet more wild speculation? I mean, is this based on something the NTSB considered?
- jdsully 5y ago
  With all respect it scares the crap out of me that the rear doors of my car don't have a way to open without electricity. I don't like to carry passengers in the backseat for that reason, and I think its a much less far fetched explanation than not being at the wheel while driving.
  - ajross 5y ago
    None of that justifies the implication that these people died because they were trapped in the car. Again I point out that this kind of consideration is absolutely something the NTSB would have been empowered to investigate, and they didn't go where you wanted. So you went there anyway. How is that any better than "there was no one at the wheel!"