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Operator of Uber Self-Driving Car Wasn't Watching Before Fatal Crash

In-car video shows that the backup pilot of an Uber Technologies self-driving car was not watching the road just before the vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian last Sunday night.
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In-car video shows that the backup pilot of an Uber Technologies self-driving car was not watching the road just before the vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian last Sunday night.

The safety driver, Rafael Vasquez, is shown looking down for several seconds ahead of the crash, then glancing up about one second before impact. The crash killed Elaine Herzberg, who was walking her bicycle across a poorly lit divided roadway.

The video indicates that Herzberg came into view less than two seconds before impact. The car was traveling at 40 mph in fully automatic mode at the time and did not automatically brake, according to police officials.

Uber, which is cooperating with crash investigators, describes the video as “disturbing and heartbreaking.”

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