DETROIT — Federal safety regulators have sent a team to investigate the fatal crash of a Tesla in a Houston suburb in which local authorities say no one was behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday it has sent a Special Crash Investigation team to Spring, Texas, to look into the Saturday night crash of the electric car. Investigators are “100% sure” that no one was driving the 2019 Tesla Model S that ran off a residential road, hit a tree and burst into flames, killing two men inside, Harris County Precinct Four Constable Mark Herman said. But they’re still trying to determine whether the electric car was operating on Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist system, or if the company’s “Full Self-Driving Capability” system was in use. One of the men was found in the front passenger seat of the badly burned car, and the other was in the back seat, Herman told The Associated Press Monday. “We are actively engaged with local law enforcement and Tesla to learn more about the details of the crash and will take appropriate steps when we have more information,” NHTSA said Monday. Investigators are in the process of getting several search warrants seeking evidence in the crash, but Herman would not say if those warrants are directed at Tesla. He said he didn’t know if investigators had spoken with the Palo Alto, California, electric vehicle maker. Also, investigators are working with NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board, both of which investigate serious auto crashes. Tesla has had serious problems with its Autopilot partially automated driving system, which has been involved in several fatal crashes where it didn’t spot tractor trailers crossing in front of it, stopped emergency vehicles, or a highway barrier. The NTSB has recommended that NHTSA and Tesla limit the roads on which the system can safely operate, and that Tesla install a more robust system to monitor drivers to make sure they’re paying attention. ...
Fatal top fuel crash
Federal Investigators Heading To Texas Following Deadly Driverless Tesla Crash
DETROIT (CBSDFW.COM/AP) – Two federal agencies are sending teams to investigate the fatal crash of a Tesla near Houston in which local authorities say no one was behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday they will send investigators to Spring to look into the fiery Saturday night crash. Two men who were in the Tesla were killed. Investigators are “100% sure” that no one was driving the Tesla that missed a curve on a residential road, hit a tree and burst into flames, Harris County Precinct Four Constable Mark Herman said. Deadly driverless Tesla crash near Houston (credit: KTRK-TV) But they’re still trying to determine whether the electric car was operating on Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist system, or if the company’s “Full Self-Driving Capability” system was in use. One of the men was found in the front passenger seat of the badly burned car, and the other was in the back seat, Herman told The Associated Press Monday. “We are actively engaged with local law enforcement and Tesla to learn more about the details of the crash and will take appropriate steps when we have more information,” NHTSA said Monday. The NTSB is sending two investigators who will focus on the vehicle’s operation and the fire, spokesman Keith Holloway said. Investigators are in the process of getting several search warrants seeking evidence in the crash, but Herman would not say if those warrants are directed at Tesla. He said he didn’t know if investigators had spoken with the Palo Alto, California, electric vehicle maker. Also, investigators are working with NHTSA and the NTSB, both of which investigate serious auto crashes. Tesla has had serious problems with its Autopilot partially automated driving system, which has been involved in several fatal crashes where it didn’t spot tractor trailers crossing in front of it, stopped emergency vehicles, or a highway barrier. The NTSB has ...
Diesel Fuel, Acid Spills Into Lanes Of Northbound 5 Freeway In La Mirada
LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — The northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway in La Mirada were shut down Monday after hundreds of gallons of corrosive acid spilled into lanes from a big rig crash. (credit: CBS) The crash between a big rig and a sedan happened at about 10:15 a.m. on the southbound 5 Freeway at Valley View Avenue. Debris flew into the northbound lanes, and the CHP reported the semi was leaking fuel from the collision. READ MORE: Liliana Carrillo Charged With Murdering 3 Children In Reseda The truck’s trailer was apparently carrying a load of corrosive acid. The crash caused the truck’s diesel fuel tank to rupture, spilling about 60 gallons onto lanes. But according to the CHP, approximately 200 gallons of corrosive acid also spilled across three northbound lanes and one southbound lane. READ MORE: Vaping Company Kandypens Ordered To Pay $1.2 Million For Allegedly Marketing, Advertising To Young Consumers Both sides of the freeway were shut down at about 1:20 p.m. Northbound traffic was diverted off the freeway at Carmenita Road, while southbound traffic was taken off at Beach Boulevard. One person involved in the crash was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. MORE NEWS: Hollywood's Musso & Frank Grill Set To Reopen May 6 A Caltrans clean-up crew was en route the scene, and it’s not clear when the northbound lanes will be reopened. ...
Woman Dies in Saturday-Morning Rollover Crash on I-580 in Oakland
OAKLAND (CBS SF) — A woman was killed early Saturday morning when the car she was driving rolled over as she attempted a sudden turn to exit Interstate 580 onto Highway 13 in Oakland. California Highway Patrol officers found a silver Chevrolet Malibu upside down around 6:30 a.m. Saturday in trees beside the road at the Highway 13 exit off westbound I-580. READ MORE: Roseville Woman Who Used Feinstein's Name, SS# For COVID Fraud Admits Stealing EDD Benefits READ MORE: COVID: California Lawmakers Revive Virus Tax Break For Businesses According to the CHP, the adult female driver had not been wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred. No other vehicles were involved. It is not known if drugs or alcohol were involved and the identity of the woman is being withheld until family has been notified, the CHP said. MORE NEWS: Bay Area Businesses Brace For Unrest Ahead of Verdict In Derek Chauvin Trial Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Oakland CHP at (510) 457-2875. ...
Joe Biden’s audacious gambles
Sign up to get our new weekly column as a newsletter. We're looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. (CNN) Tom Stoppard's play, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," begins with the two minor characters from "Hamlet" betting on the toss of a coin. It comes up heads ... and heads ... and heads -- 92 times in a row -- and Guildenstern has to keep handing over his money. "I'm afraid it isn't your day," says Rosencrantz. "Life is a gamble, at terrible odds," says another character near the end of the 1966 play , "if it was a bet you wouldn't take it." This week President Joe Biden continued taking some hard bets, hoping the coins will land his way. He set the pattern in January, days before he took office, by outlining a huge Covid relief package amounting to $1.9 trillion and then topped it last month with a proposal for a $2 trillion infrastructure bill. On Wednesday he made another consequential gamble by announcing he would pull all US troops out of Afghanistan , a decision his predecessors were tempted to make, but didn't. Along with new tensions with Russia and China, Biden is facing leadership challenges in the wake of the mass shooting in Indianapolis, police violence in Minnesota, Chicago and elsewhere and the stubbornly high rate of Covid-19 cases. The White House revealed that he would speak to a joint session of Congress on April 28 -- ratcheting up the stakes of the prime-time presidential ritual by scheduling it just two days before his 100th day in office, a milestone that shapes perceptions of new presidents. Read More When Biden goes to the Capitol that was overrun by rioters enraged that he, and not Donald Trump would be certified as the winner of the 2020 election -- and when he enters the House chamber that had to be defended at gunpoint on that chaotic January 6 -- it will be a defining moment, either an opportunity to show that he ...
