Phoenix Station KNXV Captures Aftermath of First Fatal Self-Driving Crash

By Stephanie Tsoflias Siegel 

KNXV, the Scripps-owned ABC affiliate in Phoenix, was on the scene this morning covering a fatal car accident in Tempe.

But what makes this accident different, and perhaps historic, is that a self-driving car is to blame. Uber said one of its self-driving vehicles did not stop when Elaine Herzberg, 49, rode her bike into the street, mid-block, not at a crosswalk. She was rushed to the hospital but died from her injuries. This is thought to be the first pedestrian fatality involving an autonomous vehicle. Video from the scene showed the mangled bicycle and an SUV with a damaged front end.

Tempe Police told KNXV the car was in self-operating mode but there was also someone behind the wheel.

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This afternoon Uber suspended self-driving operations in test markets across the country. This isn’t the first time a self-driving Uber was involved in an accident in Tempe. According to the Scripps-owned station, Uber suspended operations a year ago after a car was involved in a three car crash.

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