Elon Musk says Tesla crash car was NOT on auto-pilot as anesthesiologist, 59, named as one of two killed in TX collision
ELON Musk has blasted claims that a Tesla car crash took place while auto-pilot was engaged as one of the two victims was identified on Tuesday.
Authorities named Dr Will T. Varner, 59, as the owner of the vehicle, who died in the blaze on Saturday night after the car rammed into a tree near his Houston, Texas, mansion.
“Your research as a private individual is better than professionals,” he told a Twitter user questioning a report on the crash.
“Data logs recovered so far show Autopilot was not enabled & this car did not purchase FSD,” he added, referring to the Full Self Driving feature.
Cops said that they found Varner in the backseats of the car and the other man in the passenger seat.
Despite Musk’s claims that auto-pilot was not engaged, Herman said that “witness statements from people that said they left to test drive the vehicle without a driver and to show the friend how it can drive itself.”
Authorities had to use 32,000 gallons of water to put out the flames because the vehicle’s batteries kept reigniting.
At one point, deputies had to even call Tesla to ask them how to put out the fire in the battery.
Authorities will perform autopsies on both men.
This is the 28th Tesla accident to be investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which regulates vehicle safety.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
It is also the third suich crash incolvedinga Tesla in just one month, the reports.
The NHTSA has raised concerns over the auto-pilot features safety as it has been linked to three fatal crashes since 2016.