ISLAMABAD: A video showing a driverless car crashing into an Islamabad Police vehicle has gone viral on social media, prompting authorities to clarify what happened during the unusual incident.
Islamabad Police said on Tuesday that no offence was committed and described the crash as the result of human error while a university student’s experimental vehicle was being demonstrated during an interview.
The incident occurred when a reporter was demonstrating the internet-controlled, driverless car. The vehicle suddenly changed direction and crashed into a nearby police van, while the reporter could be seen attempting to pull the handbrake.
Islamabad Police explains driverless car crash
In a clarification video, Islamabad Police SP City Dr Ayaz Hussain said the incident had been investigated in detail and that authorities found no evidence of a criminal offence.
“The incident resulted from a human error while testing the student’s invention,” Dr Ayaz said.
Standing alongside the student who developed the vehicle, the police official said it was a genuine invention being tested by a young Pakistani and described such innovative talent as an important part of the country’s future.
He added that Islamabad Police supports young people involved in innovation and considers them an important national asset.
’’یقینی طور پر پاکستان میں ٹیلنٹ کی کوئی کمی نہیں‘‘، رپورٹر یہ بتاتے ہوئے بغیر ڈرائیور کے گاڑی چلانے کا تجربہ دکھا رہے تھے جو ناکام ہو گیا، گاڑی پولیس کی وین سے جا ٹکرائی، ڈز کی آواز آئی، رپورٹر نے ہینڈ بریک کھینچنے کی کوشش بھی کی۔۔!! pic.twitter.com/iGHHdY2TCS
— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram143) August 31, 2026
Student explains how car hit police van
The student, Ehsan Zafar Abbasi, said he is from Abbottabad and a third-semester Computer Engineering student at COMSATS University Abbottabad.
Ehsan said he had been involved in practical projects since around 2018 and had established a laboratory at his home to work on different inventions.
He explained that the vehicle involved in the viral incident was his internet-controlled driverless car, which he had brought to Islamabad for an interview.
According to Ehsan, the accident happened when the cameraman asked him to show the mobile phone being used to control the car to the camera.
While preparing to display the phone, he accidentally pressed the left control instead of the right one.
The mistake caused the vehicle to turn left unexpectedly, sending it directly into the Islamabad Police van.
Ehsan said Islamabad Police cooperated with him after the incident and later contacted him again when the video gained widespread attention on social media.
سوشل میڈیا پر پولیس وین سے ٹکرانے والی گاڑی کی وائرل ویڈیو کا معاملہ۔
پولیس گاڑی سے ٹکرانے والی گاڑی کے معاملے پر ایس پی سٹی زون ڈاکٹر ایاز حسین کا نوجوان کے ہمراہ ویڈیو پیغام ملاحظہ کیجیے۔#WeRIslamabadPolice pic.twitter.com/wnbkNaP102
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) September 1, 2026
Police examined car’s software and hardware
Ehsan said police examined the system after the video went viral.
He thanked SP City Dr Ayaz Hussain for understanding how the technology worked and for asking detailed questions about both the software and hardware before reaching a conclusion.
The student said he planned to continue developing his practical skills and work further in the field of technology.
He also expressed his ambition to represent Pakistan internationally through his inventions and become an example for other young Pakistanis interested in technology and innovation.
