KATY, Texas (TNND) — A crash involving a Tesla Model 3 resulted in the death of a 76-year-old woman after the car struck a residence on October 22.
Authorities said the incident occurred at approximately 2:41 p.m. on a residential street. The victim, identified as Martha Avila, was inside the home when the vehicle collided with the structure.
The driver reported to deputies that the Tesla was operating with its driver-assistance technology at the time of the crash. The police report indicated no signs of impairment, and the driver is cooperating with the investigation.
Photos from the Harris County Constable Precinct 5 show significant damage to the home, with the vehicle lodged inside and debris scattered across the lawn.
Tesla executives disputed claims that their automated driving system was responsible for the crash. CEO Elon Musk stated that the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system operates slowly in neighborhood areas, calling the incident a “high speed crash.”
Tesla's Vice President of Autopilot, Ashok Elluswamy, later clarified that the driver manually engaged the accelerator, reaching speeds of 73 mph at the time of impact. He added that the acceleration was maintained after the vehicle struck the home.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into this incident. This marks the 46th investigation involving Tesla vehicles using self-driving or driver-assistance technology in the past decade, with prior cases resulting in fatalities.
Despite its name, Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature does not equate to full autonomy. The company emphasizes that drivers must remain vigilant and ready to take control as needed.