Jury selection began Monday in the first federal trial over a fatal crash involving Tesla’s Autopilot system, according to CNBC. Elon Musk’s name drew strong reactions from potential jurors despite his absence from the Miami courtroom. The civil lawsuit stems from a 2019 crash that killed a pedestrian and injured her boyfriend when a Tesla Model S struck them while reportedly in Autopilot mode. The plaintiffs allege the system was defective and unsafe. Tesla denies liability, blaming the driver for distracted driving. Plaintiffs’ counsel argued Tesla ignored safety warnings and enabled the conditions that led to the crash, while Tesla maintains the vehicle’s technology was not at fault. Six women and three men were selected for the jury.
