Arizona woman, hit by Uber self-driving car, dies
Accident in Arizona marks self-driving vehicle’s first fatality, prompting suspension of programme across US and Canada.
A woman died of her injuries after being struck by an Uber self-driving vehicle in Arizona, police say, prompting the ride-hailing company to suspend its autonomous-vehicle programme across the US and Canada.
Monday’s accident in Tempe, Arizona, marked the first fatality from a self-driving vehicle, which are still being tested around the globe, and could derail efforts to fast-track the introduction of the new technology in the US.
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At the time of the accident, which occurred on the night between Sunday and Monday, the car was in autonomous mode with a vehicle operator behind the wheel, Tempe police said.
“The vehicle was travelling northbound … when a female walking outside of the crosswalk crossed the road from west to east when she was struck by the Uber vehicle,” police said in a statement.
A spokesman for Uber Technologies Inc said the company was suspending its North American tests.
In a tweet, Uber expressed its condolences and said the company was fully cooperating with authorities.