By Peter Valdes-Dapena | CNN
Federal regulators are investigating a crash in Pleasanton that killed a family of 4 who were driving a VinFast electric SUV that had automatic steering features that the owner had previously complained about.
The VinFast VF8 from the Vietnamese automaker founded in 2017 veered off the road, crashed right into a pole after which a tree before catching fire, in keeping with a grievance on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. The grievance was filed by someone claiming to be the owner of the vehicle.
According to the grievance, the SUV was being driven by considered one of the owner's co-workers along along with his family when the fatal accident occurred. Among the passengers killed were two children within the back seat.
The vehicle owner had complained concerning the performance of the SUV's automated steering, even though it isn’t clear whether this was a think about the accident.
“The contact was concerned that the error occurred again while the colleague was driving,” the grievance states.
It isn’t clear whether the vehicle's advanced driving assistance features were involved within the fatal accident. NHTSA has investigated quite a few incidents involving vehicles from various automobile manufacturers, including Tesla and Fordwhich had ADAS systems in use on the time. According to media reports, citing local police, speed was a think about the accident.
NHTSA's Special Crash Investigations Unit, which investigates incidents which are of particular interest as a consequence of unusual circumstances or latest technologies, will “document the circumstances of the accident and the resulting fire,” in keeping with a press release from the agency.
VInFast, which is headquartered in Vietnam, didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment on the investigation.
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