THERE WAS NO COMMENT FROM DIMPLE
PATEL AS PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE
ESCORTED HER INTO A POLICE
CRUISER TUESDAY, THE 23 YEAR OLD PRE MED STUDENT
TURNING HERSELF INTO AUTHORITIES AFTER BEING CHARGED
WITH BEING INTOXICATED WHILE
USING A PARTIALLY AUTOMATED CAR THAT HIT
AND KILLED TWO MEN STANDING ON THE SHOULDER OF I 95 IN
PHILADELPHIA LAST MARCH. FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS TOLD NBC
10, THE TWO MEN WERE NATIVE OF
KYRGYZSTAN IN CENTRAL ASIA BUT LIVED IN NORTHEAST
PHILADELPHIA AT THE TIME. POLICE SAY THE VICTIM'S CAR HAD
BROKEN DOWN AND WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AROUND 330 IN
THE MORNING NEAR THE BETSY ROSS
BRIDGE INTERCHANGE. POLICE SAY PATEL WAS OPERATING
HER 2022 FORD MUSTANG MACH E WITH ITS BLUE CRUISE HANDS FREE
DRIVING FEATURE. POLICE SAY THE CRUISE CONTROL
WAS ACTIVATED WHEN SHE HIT THE MEN TRAVELING MORE
THAN 70 MPH. AN ATTORNEY FOR PATEL SENT NBC
10 NEWS A STATEMENT IN PART SAYING IT HAS
BEEN WIDELY REPORTED THAT THE STATE POLICE INDICATED
THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A SELF DRIVING MODE OF SOME
KIND. SO WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT
THAT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO RESOLVING
THIS MATTER IN COURT. DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR MUSTANG
MACH E CAN BE EQUIPPED WITH AN AVAILABLE FEATURE CALLED
FORD BLUE CRUISE HANDS FREE
HIGHWAY DRIVING FORD. POSTING THIS VIDEO ONLINE, EXPLAINING THE TECHNOLOGY INSIDE
THE CAR INVOLVED IN A CRASH FORD BLUE CRUISE
ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THE
STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE SYSTEM
ACCELERATES, BRAKES AND STEERS YOUR MUSTANG
MAKI WITHIN THE LANE. IT USES AN ADVANCED INFRARED
DRIVER FACING CAMERA TO TRACK EYE GAZE AND
HEAD POSITION TO ENSURE THAT YOU'RE PAYING
ATTENTION TO THE ROAD WHILE IN
HANDS FREE MODE. ACCORDING TO THE A P, THIS WAS AT LEAST THE SECOND
CRASH THIS YEAR INVOLVING A MOCK E HITTING A STATIONARY
CAR AFTER DARK. FORD SAYS THEY ARE WORKING WITH
STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES IN
REVIEWING THE CRASH. MEANWHILE, THE PRE MED STUDENT FROM
PHILADELPHIA IS FACING MULTIPLE
CHARGES INCLUDING HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE WHILE
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND INVOLUNTARY
MANSLAUGHTER. JOHNNY ARCHER NBC NEWS.