(KRON) — A fatal collision in between a Tesla and a firetruck on an East Bay freeway in February transpired when the Tesla was running on autopilot, in accordance to crash information acquired by KRON4. The National Highway Targeted traffic Protection Administration declared in March that it is investigating 16 lethal Tesla crashes involving the autopilot process.

The crash occurred all over 4 a.m. on Feb. 18, when a 2014 Tesla Product S slammed into a fireplace truck that was blocking element of the roadway just after an incident, the Contra Costa County Fire Section stated.

The Tesla was traveling at 71 mph when it strike, in accordance to crash facts from the NHTSA. The driver guiding the wheel of the Tesla died at the scene, and a different passenger experienced to be extricated from the motor vehicle with “major” injuries, the California Freeway Patrol stated.

4 firefighters have been also inside of of the truck at the time of the crash. The good news is, all 4 were carrying their seatbelts when the Tesla struck.

The California Highway Patrol verified the id of the Tesla driver who died as 31-yr-aged Genesis Giovani Mendoza Martinez of Pittsburg. CHP was not equipped to verify if prescription drugs or liquor were being included in the crash, as the toxicology report is still pending.

The bring about of dying for Martinez has not yet been determined. CHP is nevertheless investigating the cause of the crash.

How does Tesla autopilot work?

Autopilot is a driver-assistance technique that Tesla suggests “enhances basic safety and benefit driving the wheel.” The method will come common on each individual Tesla, according to the company’s web page. Teslas have eight external cameras constructed in which deliver the process with the capacity for eyesight processing.

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Tesla states that all of its autopilot programs are intended to be applied with a “fully attentive driver” with arms on the wheel. The company’s expectation is that the driver need to be completely ready to take in excess of at any minute.

The NHTSA confirmed the self-driving mode was mounted in the car but declined to verify if it was in use at the time. Having said that, an NHTSA report attained by KRON4 implies that Tesla verified the program was in use at the time of the crash. KRON4 reached out to Tesla for comment on the incident but did not listen to again.