http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-20/uber-suspends-self-driving-car-tests-after-fatal-crash/9565586Uber suspends self-driving car tests after vehicle hits and kills woman crossing the street in ArizonaUpdated about 2 hours ago. March 20 2018
An Uber self-driving car has hit and killed a woman crossing the street in Arizona, marking the first time a self-driving car has killed a pedestrian and dealing a potential blow to technology which is expected to transform transportation.
Key points: - A self-driving Uber car has hit and killed a pedestrian in Phoenix
- It is unclear if the car, which was travelling at 65 kilometres an hour, slowed before the collision
- The Volvo was in fully autonomous mode with a driver behind the wheel
Uber said it was suspending North American tests of its self-driving vehicles, which have been going on for months in the Phoenix area, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto.
Elaine Herzberg, 49, was walking her bicycle outside the pedestrian crossing on a four-lane road in Tempe, Phoenix at about 10:00pm on Sunday (local time) when she was struck by the Uber vehicle traveling at about 65 kilometres per hour, police said.
The car was in autonomous mode with an operator behind the wheel and police were unsure whether it slowed down before the collision.
Ms Herzberg later died from her injuries in hospital, police said.
Local television footage of the scene showed a crumpled bike and a Volvo XC90 SUV with a damaged front.
Volvo confirmed its vehicle was involved in the crash but said the software controlling the SUV was not its own.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Transportation Safety Board said they were sending teams to investigate the crash.
Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi expressed condolences on Twitter and said the company was working with local law enforcement on the investigation.
