SAN ANTONIO – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says “overreliance” on a semi-autonomous vehicle led to a deadly crash in San Antonio in 2024.
The crash happened Feb. 24, 2024, on Interstate 10 near Foster Road.
The driver of an electric-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E sport utility vehicle was headed eastbound when he crashed into a Honda CRV.
The driver of the Mustang told police that the CRV was stopped in the middle lane with no lights on.
The driver of the CRV was taken to a hospital, where he died from injuries sustained in the crash. He was identified as Jeffrey Allen Johnson, 56, from Austin.
On Tuesday, two deadly crashes involving Ford’s Blue Cruise system -- including the 2024 crash in San Antonio -- were the focus of an NTSB hearing.
The systems allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel.
The NTSB said the systems are convenient but they don’t improve safety because people are often too reliant on them and end up paying more attention to their cellphones and infotainment screens than to the road.
“These systems function primarily as convenience features rather than safety enhancements,” NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said.
During the hearing, the NTSB released a series of recommendations aimed at preventing future safety issues. A Ford spokesperson said the company will give the recommendations serious consideration.
Read more on the hearing: Systems that let drivers take their hands off the wheel don’t improve safety, NTSB head says