A VinFast electric vehicle crashed in Pleasanton, California in April, resulting in the death of a family of four, according to a report by US auto safety authorities released on Monday.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will investigate the circumstances of the April 24 collision and the subsequent fire. The crash that caused the death of a couple and their two children, aged nine and thirteen, might have been influenced by steering, as stated in a complaint submitted to the agency on April 29th.
The driver in the car crash seemed to have lost control and hit a big oak tree. The Pleasanton Police mentioned that speed might have been a factor.
VinFast, a Vietnamese car manufacturer that started selling cars in the US in 2023, did not respond to a comment request.
VinFast representatives confirmed that they are aware of the accident mentioned in the Pleasanton Weekly. The authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident and will provide their findings once the inquiry is finished.
The agency opens over 100 special crash investigations each year to explore new technologies and potential auto safety concerns.
On April 29, a coworker filed a complaint with the NHTSA stating that the steering wheel suddenly turned to the right. However, the coworker managed to regain control of the wheel. The coworker was worried that the steering issue had resurfaced in the fatal crash.
The car did not belong to the family, police told the media.
