The leading U.S. automotive regulator initiated an inquiry on Monday following an incident where a Tesla, utilizing an automated driving function, crashed into a residence in Texas at a high velocity, resulting in the tragic death of a 76-year-old woman inside. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the commencement of a special investigation into the Tesla Model 3 collision that took place near Houston last Friday. The vehicle was equipped with technology that Elon Musk views as pivotal to the future of the company.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is introducing robotaxi services utilizing autonomous software in various U.S. cities this year, with plans to enlist Tesla owners to incorporate their vehicles into the fleet through the same system nationwide. The driver involved in the incident informed the Harris County Sheriff’s Office that they were utilizing the technology at the time of the crash; however, it remains unclear whether the technology played a role in the accident.
A video capturing the incident showed the Tesla crashing into the home. While Tesla did not provide a comment, a representative of the company’s artificial intelligence division indicated on social media that the self-driving feature was not at fault. The individual stated that the driver manually intervened by fully depressing the accelerator pedal to 100% capacity in a residential area.
The police report confirmed that the driver was sober and cooperating with authorities. The victim of the crash was identified as Martha Avila. Footage obtained from KHOU-TV depicted the car speeding across the front yard of a brick house in Katy, Texas, and colliding with a front room before coming to a halt within the structure.
The NHTSA, responsible for auto safety regulation, has conducted numerous investigations into Tesla, including a recent probe involving 58 incidents where Teslas purportedly violated traffic safety regulations while utilizing self-driving technology, resulting in multiple crashes, fires, and injuries. Over the past decade, the agency has opened 46 special investigations into Tesla accidents involving self-driving or driver-assistance features, with several incidents resulting in fatalities.
Despite facing challenges, Tesla’s focus has shifted towards AI and robotaxi services under Musk’s leadership, leading to a notable increase in the company’s stock value over the past year.