KATY, Texas (TNND) — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into a crash involving a Tesla Model 3 that killed a 76-year-old woman on October 22.
Harris County authorities reported that the driver indicated the vehicle was operating under Tesla's driver-assistance technology at the time of the incident. The victim, identified as Martha Avila, was struck as the vehicle crashed into the front of her home.
Investigators noted that the driver showed no signs of impairment and is cooperating with authorities. Tesla executives have disputed claims that the automated driving system caused the crash.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated on social media that the incident was perplexing, as the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is designed to operate slowly in residential areas. He characterized the crash as a “high-speed” incident.
Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's Vice President of Autopilot, clarified that the driver manually overridden the self-driving system by fully pressing the accelerator pedal. He also confirmed that the vehicle reached a speed of 73 mph at the moment of impact.
The NHTSA has opened 46 investigations related to crashes involving Tesla vehicles equipped with self-driving or driver-assistance technology in the past decade, over a dozen of which resulted in fatalities.
Despite its name, Tesla's FSD system does not make the vehicle autonomous. The company emphasizes that a fully attentive driver is required at all times.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported that the vehicle created a large hole in the home, with debris scattered in the front yard. Emergency responders are investigating the scene further.