Another Tesla crash blamed on car's Autopilot system - CNET

Another Tesla vehicle has crashed while allegedly under the control of the car's Autopilot system, the third crash reported in the past two weeks to be linked to the self-driving feature.

The most recent crash involved a Model X and occurred Sunday moing near the small town of Whitehall, Montana, according to the Detroit Free Press. Neither the driver nor passenger were injured in the single-vehicle crash, the Montana Highway Patrol told the newspaper.

Autopilot is a name for a suite of features available on the Model S sedan and Model X SUV that use radar and cameras to steer the car in its lane and automatically match speeds of slower traffic ahead. The system can also automatically change lanes when the driver hits the tu signal.

The car failed to detect an obstacle in the road, according to a thread posted on the Tesla Motors Club forum by someone identifying themself as a friend of the driver. The thread included photos showing the damage to the vehicle.

"Autopilot did not detect a wood stake on the road, hit more than 20 wood stakes, tire on front passenger side and lights flyed [sic] away," wrote the friend, who goes by the useame Eresan. "The speed limit is 55, he was driving 60 on autopilot. His car is completely destroyed."