Self-driving Uber car runs over and kills pedestrian

A self-driving Uber car has struck and killed a pedestrian in the first accident of its kind in the US.

Uber says it has suspended all of its self-driving testing following what is believed to be the first fatal pedestrian accident involving the vehicles.

Elaine Herzberg, 49, had been wheeling her bicycle across the road in suburban Phoenix when she was hit by the modified Volvo SUV. She later died of her injuries in hospital.

Police said the car was in self-driving mode with a human back-up operator behind the wheel when it hit Ms Herzberg.

The incident immediately fuelled concerns over the development of self-driving vehicles, which have been billed as potentially safer than cars with humans at the wheel.

Testing has been taking place in Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto. Automakers and tech companies are competing to be first with the technology.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed condolences on his Twitter account and said the company is working with police on the investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said they are sending teams to investigate.