The primary U.S. automotive regulator has initiated an inquiry following a Tesla vehicle utilizing an automated driving function crashed into a residence in Texas, resulting in the tragic death of a 76-year-old woman inside. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the commencement of a special investigation into the Tesla Model 3 collision that occurred near Houston last Friday. The vehicle was employing technology that Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, deems crucial for the company’s future endeavors.
The Tesla CEO is introducing robotaxis utilizing automated software in various U.S. cities this year and intends to encourage Tesla owners to incorporate their vehicles into the fleet utilizing 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, although it remains uncertain whether this technology contributed to the occurrence.
Although Tesla did not provide a comment, the head of the company’s artificial intelligence division hinted on social media that the self-driving feature was not at fault. The individual mentioned that the driver manually overrode the self-driving function by fully pressing the accelerator in a residential area. The driver accelerated the vehicle to 73 mph (119 km/h) during the crash and continued to press the accelerator even after the collision.
The police report confirmed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol and is cooperating with the authorities. The victim of the incident was identified as Martha Avila. Video footage obtained by KHOU-TV depicts the car speeding across the front lawn of a house in Katy, Texas, before crashing into a front room, where it ultimately became embedded in the structure amidst debris.
The NHTSA has conducted numerous investigations into Tesla, including a prior inquiry into 58 incidents where Teslas allegedly violated traffic safety regulations while utilizing self-driving technology, resulting in multiple accidents and injuries. Over the past decade, the NHTSA has initiated 46 special crash investigations involving Teslas equipped with self-driving or driver-assistance technology, with several incidents resulting in fatalities.
Tesla experienced a significant decline in its stock value early last year, attributed to reduced car sales following a boycott of Musk due to his political involvement. However, Musk successfully transitioned the Tesla narrative towards AI and robotaxis, leading to a 16% increase in the company’s stock over the past year.