Driverless shuttle bus crashes on first trip in Las Vegas
Digital Reporter
Thursday, November 9, 2017, 10:46 AM - The first driverless shuttle bus launched in Las Vegas Wednesday, and crashed less than two hours later.
Kelolis, the private company that operates the shuttle, says the vehicle stopped exactly as it was supposed to when a semi-truck in front of it got too close, Las Vegas Now reported.
Passengers say the truck driver did see the shuttle and backed right into it.
"The truck was backing up and at his angle, it's like a 45-degree angle, while he's like trying to back into the alleyway," a witness who was riding the shuttle bus told NBC via Reuters. "He just couldn't see the shuttle and the shuttle didn't have the ability to move back either. Like the shuttle just stayed still."
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Eight passengers were aboard when it happened. Everyone was wearing a seatbelt at the time and no one was injured.
The driver of the truck was cited, according to Las Vegas Now.
The driverless oval-shaped shuttle can transport up to 12 passengers and has an attendant and computer monitor, but no steering wheel and no brake pedals.
The vehicle uses GPS, electronic curb sensors and other technology to make its way around the city.
A spokesperson for Kelolis says the company has been testing the vehicle since January with zero incidents of any kind.
Sources: Las Vegas Now | NBC via Reuters.
