Prosecutors Clear Uber of Criminal Liability in Fatal Arizona Self-Driving Crash
Yavapai County prosecutors determine Uber holds no criminal responsibility for the 2018 autonomous vehicle crash that killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona. The case now shifts focus to the backup driver, who reportedly was streaming video on her phone during the incident.
Yavapai County prosecutors announce that Uber is not criminally liable for the 2018 self-driving car crash that fatally strikes pedestrian Elaine Herzberg in Tempe, Arizona. The autonomous SUV carries a backup driver behind the wheel when it collides with Herzberg as she walks across the street. Following the deadly incident, Uber suspends its self-driving test program on public roads for nine months.
Prosecutor Sheila Polk states that the widely circulated video of the collision likely does not accurately depict the actual events of the crash. While there is no legal basis to hold Uber criminally responsible, Polk recommends referring the case to Tempe police to gather further evidence against the vehicle's backup driver, Rafaela Vasquez. Authorities report that Vasquez is watching streaming videos on her smartphone at the time of the collision.
Polk notes that an expert analysis of the dashcam footage is necessary to determine exactly what the backup driver sees given the vehicle's speed and the dark lighting conditions. This legal update arrives despite a previous report revealing that an Uber manager warns executives about safety issues in the autonomous vehicle unit just a week before the fatal crash occurs.