The chief U.S. automotive regulator has initiated an inquiry following a tragic incident in which a Tesla vehicle utilizing automated driving capabilities crashed into a residence in Texas, resulting in the death of a 76-year-old woman inside. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the launch of a special investigation into the Tesla Model 3 collision that took place near Houston on Friday. This vehicle was equipped with technology that is deemed crucial for the future of Elon Musk’s company.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is introducing robotaxis that utilize automated software in various U.S. cities this year and intends to allow Tesla owners to integrate their vehicles into the fleet using the same system nationwide. According to a police report on the incident, the driver informed the Harris County Sheriff’s Office that he was utilizing the technology; however, it remains uncertain whether this technology contributed to the accident.
A video clip captured the car crashing into the house, but Tesla did not provide a comment. Ashok Elluswamy, a key figure in the company’s artificial intelligence endeavors, suggested on social media that the self-driving feature was not at fault. He mentioned that the driver manually overrode the self-driving function by pressing the accelerator to its maximum in a residential area, reaching a speed of 73 mph (119 km/h) during the crash.
The driver involved in the incident was found to be sober and is cooperating with authorities. The victim was identified as Martha Avila. Footage obtained from KHOU-TV depicted the vehicle speeding across the front lawn of a home in Katy, Texas, before colliding with a room at high velocity.
The NHTSA has previously conducted multiple investigations into Tesla, including one examining instances where Teslas allegedly violated traffic safety regulations while utilizing self-driving technology, resulting in crashes, fires, and injuries. The agency has also probed Tesla’s delayed reporting of crashes. Over the past decade, the NHTSA has opened 46 special crash investigations related to Teslas equipped with self-driving or driver-assistance technology, with several incidents resulting in fatalities.
Despite facing challenges, including a drop in stock prices and decreased car sales following controversies involving Musk’s political involvement, Tesla has rebranded its narrative to focus more on artificial intelligence and robotaxi initiatives, leading to a 16% increase in stock value over the past year.
