KATY, Texas (TNND) — A crash involving a Tesla Model 3 struck a home, resulting in the death of a 76-year-old woman on Monday afternoon.
According to Harris County authorities, the driver reported that the vehicle was operating with Tesla's driver-assistance technology at the time of the incident. Eyewitnesses reported the collision occurred around 2:41 p.m., with the vehicle reportedly reaching speeds of 73 mph before impact. The victim was identified as Martha Avila.
Authorities stated that the driver exhibited no signs of impairment and is cooperating with the investigation. The NHTSA has since opened an investigation into the incident, which is one of 46 involving Tesla's self-driving technology over the past decade.
Witnesses reported that the Tesla crashed into the front room of the home. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed that debris was scattered across the front lawn, with significant damage visible to the residence.
Tesla executives disputed claims linking its automated driving system to the crash, emphasizing that the driver manually pressed the accelerator pedal fully prior to impact. The company maintains that its Full Self-Driving feature does not make the vehicle autonomous and that drivers must remain attentive at all times.
Authorities have not indicated any pending charges at this time.