Philly Woman Accused of Using HANDS-FREE DRIVING IN FATAL CRASH THAT KILLED TWO, Faces Manslaughter Charges
In March, a woman accused of driving under the influence crashed and killed two people on a Philadelphia highway while using a largely automated driving system.
Dimple Patel, 23, is facing various criminal charges, including DUI homicide and involuntary manslaughter, according to a press statement from the Pennsylvania State Police. Patel brought herself to the police on Tuesday.
According to authorities, the incident occurred around 3 a.m. on March 3 on I-95. Two cars had pulled over on the left side of the roadway, one assisting the other. As one driver exited his vehicle and the other stood close, Patel rear-ended one of the automobiles, causing a four-vehicle crash that killed both men, Aktilek Baktybekov and Tolobek Esenbekov.
According to investigators, Patel was using Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving technology with adaptive cruise control turned on at the time of the incident.
“No partially automated vehicle technology should ever be left alone to perform the driving tasks that are required to safely navigate the roads of the commonwealth,” the Pennsylvania State Police warned in a Tuesday release. “While the advancements in technology are immense, always strive to maintain proper control of your vehicle.”
Ford’s BlueCruise system allows drivers to keep their hands off the steering wheel on selected highway portions while the system handles the steering, braking, and accelerating, utilizing external sensors to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings. A driver-facing camera is intended to ensure that the driver remains alert and can take control of the vehicle at any time.
Zak Goldstein, Patel’s defense attorney, told NBC News on Wednesday that the BlueCruise system’s role in the tragedy will be crucial to the evidence.
Whether that system played a role in the crash is something we will investigate thoroughly because Pennsylvania law requires that a DUI, which has yet to be proven, be the cause of any fatality for a homicide while DUI charge,” Goldstein stated.
“She is presumed innocent, and it is important not to rush to judgment,” he said. “We look forward to resolving this matter in court.”
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According to court records, Patel was arrested on Tuesday and posted bond that day. Her next hearing is scheduled for September 17.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started an inquiry in April following two tragic events, including this one, involving Mustang Mach-Es equipped with Ford’s BlueCruise driving technology. Ford had stated that it was supporting the probe.
Auto safety regulators continue to closely monitor driver assistance and self-driving car systems. Earlier this year, Tesla’s Autopilot was tied to hundreds of car incidents and many deaths.
