In a recent development, an independent investigation into the pedestrian dragging incident involving a Cruise robotaxi in San Francisco has shed light on various concerning aspects, including the failure to send the full video to regulators and the malfunction of the automated vehicle itself. The investigation was conducted by General Motors' own team and the findings were released yesterday.

According to the analysis, Cruise attempted to send a 45-second video of the incident to regulators but could only transmit a partial video due to internet connectivity issues. The law firm hired by GM, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, reported that Cruise staff encountered difficulties in sending the entire video on three separate occasions. However, it was not noted during subsequent meetings that crucial parts of the video were missing.

The incident occurred when a pedestrian, who had already been hit by a hit-and-run vehicle, was dragged by the Cruise robotaxi for approximately 20 feet. Fortunately, the pedestrian survived the incident but sustained injuries. The investigation report, spanning nearly 200 pages, mentions that Cruise is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The malfunction of the Cruise vehicle itself was also highlighted in the investigation. It was revealed that the vehicle failed to accurately detect the woman's location and the specific part of the car that hit her. Additionally, the car mistakenly read its own location after the collision, leading it to continue driving instead of making an emergency stop. An engineering consultancy firm, Exponent, conducted a report confirming these findings.

Furthermore, it was discovered that over 100 Cruise employees were aware of the full details of the incident prior to a meeting with government officials the following day, but crucial information, such as the pedestrian being dragged, was omitted. Cruise issued a press statement and shared an early video with the media, unaware that the pedestrian had been dragged. The investigation also exposed concerns about an antagonistic culture within Cruise regarding regulators, indicating a strained relationship.

The fallout from the incident has already had significant financial repercussions for General Motors, with a loss of $1.9 billion in Cruise expenses between January and September of last year, as well as a $732 million loss in the third quarter. Following these setbacks, Cruise's CEO and founder, Kyle Vogt, resigned, accompanied by a substantial layoff of 900 employees and nine top executives.

The incident prompted the California Department of Motor Vehicles to revoke Cruise's operating permit, leading Cruise to voluntarily halt its operations nationwide. Additionally, federal probes and independent investigations brought to light internal documents that revealed flaws in the vehicle's algorithm, including difficulties in identifying children.

Cruise now faces potential fines amounting to $1.5 million and potential additional sanctions for its failure to disclose details about the accident. This ongoing investigation raises significant questions about the development and implementation of autonomous vehicles and the responsibility of companies in ensuring public safety.

As this story continues to unfold, the industry and regulators will closely monitor Cruise's actions and the measures taken to address the issues raised by this incident.