{
  "id": 4693774,
  "title": "'Technical fault': Driverless car crashes into police van in Islamabad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/technical-fault-driverless-car-crashes-into-police-van-in-islamabad",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T18:56:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2026439/technical-fault-driverless-car-crashes-into-police-van-in-islamabad"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An automated vehicle experienced a technical malfunction and collided with a police van during a demonstration in Islamabad, according to technology enthusiast Ehsan Zafar. The incident unfolded on Sunday when journalist Muhammad Aalijah recorded a video showcasing the remote-controlled car's operation in Islamabad’s D-Chowk. As Aalijah explained the vehicle's features and observed it moving forward, the steering wheel, remotely controlled by an operator, lost control. The car subsequently struck a parked police van alongside the road. Aalijah attempted to prevent the collision by pulling the handbrake, but it was too late. The video gained significant traction on social media, accompanied by humorous remarks. Aalijah revealed that the technology enthusiast Ehsan Zafar commissioned him to document the young man's automated-driving innovation. Despite the incident, Aalijah emphasized that his aim was never to defame or target Zafar, but rather to highlight the importance of caution and thorough testing prior to deploying new technologies. He clarified that the car was controlled remotely via internet connections, and the sudden loss of connectivity resulted in the vehicle going out of control. Aalijah warned that if such an incident were to occur on a busier road, the consequences could have been catastrophic. He reiterated that the video was not intended as criticism or an attempt to discredit Zafar, but rather as a responsible initiative to raise awareness and issue a warning—urging individuals to prioritize safety when experimenting with new technologies.",
  "summary": "A video clip went viral on social media after a remote-controlled car crashed into a police van in Islamabad, reportedly due to a “technical fault” caused by an internet disruption. On Sunday, journalist Muhammad Aalijah uploaded a video on his official social media account showing him seated in the front passenger seat of a car at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, which appeared to be operated using a…",
  "key_points": [
    "Driverless car crashed into police van during Islamabad demo",
    "Technical glitch caused loss of control due to internet disconnection",
    "Video aimed to raise awareness of safety in new technology testing"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}