Get All Access for $5/mo

Police Release Footage From Fatal Uber Self-Driving Car Crash Police in Tempe, Ariz., are still investigating the collision, which killed a 49-year-old woman crossing the road at night.

By Michael Kan

This story originally appeared on PCMag

Tempe Police Department | Facebook

Police in Arizona have released dash cam footage of Uber's self-driving car in the moments before it fatally struck a woman on Sunday night.

The footage shows the woman, 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, crossing the middle of the road with her bicycle in dimly lit conditions seconds before the collision. The Uber vehicle, which was in self-driving mode and traveling at approximately 40 mph, doesn't appear to slow down. Herzberg was transported to a nearby hospital, where she died.

The footage also includes an interior view of the human driver behind Uber's autonomous vehicle. The man, 44-year-old Rafael Vasquez, fails to notice the woman until the final moment.

Police in Tempe, Ariz., say they're still investigating the incident and have not yet assigned fault. But Tempe's police chief suggested that Uber could be cleared of wrongdoing. "It's very clear it would have been difficult to avoid this collision in any kind of mode (autonomous or human-driven) based on how she came from the shadows right into the roadway," the chief told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The crash appears to be the first time a self-driving car has killed a pedestrian. The Tesla Autopilot crash in 2016 killed that vehicle's driver when it crashed into a truck.

Uber has since temporarily suspended its U.S. self-driving car programs and is cooperating with police on their investigation.

Michael Kan

Reporter

Michael has been a PCMag reporter since October 2017. He previously covered tech news in China from 2010 to 2015, before moving to San Francisco to write about cybersecurity.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Solutions

The One Microsoft Design Tool Business Owners Shouldn't Miss

For a limited time, you can get a lifetime license for just $20.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Devices

Holiday Savings: Get a MacBook Air for $250

At this price, get one as a gift and one for yourself.

Starting a Business

Your Firsthand Experiences Shape the Way You Run Your Business — Here's How Mine Shaped Me

Growing up in a family-owned Chinese restaurant instilled in me the entrepreneurial spirit that now drives my tech venture. From handling customer complaints to managing staff, these early experiences shaped my approach to business and leadership.

Franchise

5 Founders Who Transformed Franchising — And the Powerful Lessons Behind Their Success

Each of these franchise founders faced setbacks that could have ended their dreams. But they pushed through, creating brands that today feel like a part of our daily lives.