U.S. auto safety regulators have launched a formal investigation into Tesla after a vehicle using automated driving technology crashed at high speed into a Texas home, killing a 76-year-old woman inside, authorities said Monday.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is opening a special crash investigation into the Friday incident near Houston, a probe that puts renewed scrutiny on Elon Musk’s driver-assistance systems, which the company has positioned as central to its future robotaxi ambitions.
According to a Harris County Sheriff’s Office crash report, the Tesla Model 3 driver told investigators he was using automated driving features at the time of the collision. Officials said it remains unclear what role, if any, the technology played in the deadly crash. The driver was not intoxicated and is cooperating with authorities, the report said.
The victim was identified by police as 76-year-old Martha Avila.
Video obtained by KHOU-TV shows the vehicle speeding across a residential lawn in Katy before slamming into the front of a brick home and becoming lodged inside a room amid debris, shattered beams and scattered furniture.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The crash adds to mounting scrutiny of Tesla’s driver-assistance technology. NHTSA has previously opened dozens of special crash investigations involving Tesla vehicles equipped with automated systems, including multiple fatalities. The agency has also examined whether the company failed to properly report crashes as required.
The latest investigation comes as Musk pushes ahead with plans to expand Tesla’s automated driving software into robotaxi fleets in multiple U.S. cities, while encouraging owners to add their vehicles to the network.
Tesla's stock plummeted early last year, driven by a boycott against Elon Musk after his political forays, which included leading President Donald Trump’s budget-cutting Department of Government Efficiency initiative and embracing European extremist candidates.
However, Musk successfully shifted Tesla's narrative from car sales to AI and robotaxis, resulting in a 16% increase in Tesla's stock over the past year.
Regulators say the investigation is ongoing.
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