We previously shared about Assisted Driver Systems wreaking havoc, including a fatal crash between a Ford Mustang Mach-E and two additional vehicles on I-95 in Philadelphia, PA that occurred on March 3, 2024. You can read that article, here.
As of early last month, the driver of that Mustang Mach-E, 23-year-old Dimple Patel, has officially been indicted on multiple charges, including homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter.
Maryclaire Dale of Insurance Journal writes, “Investigators in Philadelphia believe that Mustang driver Dimple Patel was driving about 71 mph (114 kph), using both Blue Cruise and Adaptive Cruise Control, when the crash occurred. A fourth vehicle was also struck.”
Dale explains, “Ford’s Blue Cruise system allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel while it handles steering, braking and acceleration on highways. The company says the system isn’t fully autonomous and it monitors drivers to make sure they pay attention to the road.”
However, Patel’s defense attorney, Zak Goldstein, noted that Pennsylvania law on DUI-related homicides requires the DUI to be the cause of the homicide. He stated, “If in fact it’s a failure in a self-driving or a driving system, that may not be a homicide by DUI even if the driver is intoxicated.”
We are curious how this pans out, as there is currently no case law regarding this issue in the state of Pennsylvania.
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