On February 24, 2024, at approximately 9:48 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas, a 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 near the Woodlake Parkway exit struck a stationary 1999 Honda CR-V in the center travel lane. The Honda driver died, while the Ford driver sustained minor injuries. Shortly before impact, a Chevrolet Cruze ahead of the Ford moved rapidly into another lane to avoid the stationary vehicle. The Ford continued forward without recorded braking or steering intervention by either its driver or automated system.
System capabilities and recorded vehicle behavior
The Ford driver was using BlueCruise, the manufacturer's hands-free SAE Level 2 partial driving-automation system. It assists steering and speed regulation within designated conditions but requires the human driver to remain attentive and ready to control the vehicle. The event data showed a system-recorded speed around 74.7 mph on a highway posted at 70 mph. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated how driver monitoring, automated emergency braking and the partial-automation controller responded to a stationary highway hazard.
Probable cause and contributing factors
On March 31, 2026, the NTSB determined that the probable cause was the Ford driver's failure to respond to the stopped vehicle because of distraction, likely involving the in-vehicle navigation system, following overreliance on hands-free automation and disengagement from the driving task. The NTSB explicitly identified the inability of Ford's partial-automation and automatic-emergency-braking functions to detect or respond to the Honda as a contributor. It also considered the stationary vehicle's location in a travel lane, potentially associated with impairment of its driver. These findings document system contribution, not sole autonomous responsibility.
Driver monitoring, braking and safety oversight
The investigation noted that Ford's driver-monitoring safeguards did not adequately recognize attention lapses and that partial automation could be used in configurations that weakened safety-critical functions. The NTSB highlighted broader gaps in federal oversight and standards for Level 2 systems, including inconsistent crash data recording, insufficient reporting mechanisms and hazards associated with excessive automation speeds. It called for improved monitoring of driver attention, better integration of automatic braking and speed controls, and more robust federal requirements.
Documentation and related investigation
The San Antonio crash is investigation HWY24FH006, covered by NTSB highway investigation report HIR-26-02. The report also addresses the separate BlueCruise collision in Philadelphia on March 3, 2024, under investigation HWY24FH008. Although both involve 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles and stationary traffic at highway speed, they constitute separate incidents and must not be merged in a mortality database. NTSB safety findings are not a determination of civil or criminal liability.
Geographic precision
The location text identifies Interstate 10 eastbound near Woodlake Parkway, while the map marker is set to approximate San Antonio city coordinates and does not represent the specific highway collision point. This record counts one fatality.