Federal Investigation Launched After Fatal Tesla Crash

U.S. road safety authorities have opened an investigation into a fatal crash involving a Tesla that veered off the road and slammed into a home in Texas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced Monday it had launched a thorough investigation into the accident that occurred on June 19. A woman inside the home was critically injured and later died from her injuries, according to local police. Investigators said the driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The driver stated the vehicle was using an automated driving assistance system at the time of the crash. "The NHTSA is launching a special investigation into this accident," an agency spokesperson said. Tesla, the company run by billionaire Elon Musk, did not respond to requests for comment about the crash or investigation. The accident happened around 8 p.m. local time on Friday. According to police reports, the driver of a Tesla Model 3 failed to stay in his lane, left the roadway, and struck a residence. In a statement to local media that evening, Sergeant Alex Turman of the Harris County Sheriff's Office said the vehicle failed to negotiate a right turn at an intersection and crashed head-on into a house at high speed. The victim, a 76-year-old woman inside the home, was taken to the hospital after being struck by the impact but did not survive her injuries. In an interview with a local CBS affiliate, the victim's daughter said she found her mother in the house after the crash. The deceased lived with her daughter, son-in-law, and their three children, who were also home at the time of the tragedy. "My mother was such a caring woman," her daughter said. The driver was also hospitalized and is cooperating with investigators. Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the crash. However, one line of inquiry involves the use of an automated driving system, as claimed by the driver. "We're still trying to understand why the vehicle failed to control its speed just before the accident," Sergeant Turman said. According to the NHTSA, a special crash investigation is the most in-depth type of investigation conducted by the agency. It is separate from the local police investigation. These investigations often focus on new automotive technologies to gather data that could improve road safety. While this type of investigation does not immediately aim to penalize a manufacturer, it can lead to vehicle recalls or other corrective measures. Tesla markets its driver-assistance technology under the name "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)." This technology regularly faces criticism, with some arguing its name can mislead users about its actual capabilities. Earlier this year, the NHTSA expanded an investigation into its performance in adverse weather conditions. Last week, Democratic Senators Edward Markey and Richard Blumenthal asked the NHTSA to review the risks associated with this technology. In a letter to the agency, they claimed that Tesla argues its system is safer than human driving based on data analyses they consider misleading. The lawmakers also called for stronger transparency requirements for automakers developing autonomous driving technologies.