Topline
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into a fatal crash last Friday, multiple outlets reported, days after a Tesla driver who was allegedly using his car’s driver-assistance feature slammed into a woman’s house, killing a 76-year-old grandmother.
Key Facts
The NHTSA also opened a special crash investigation into the collision, the Wall Street Journal first reported on Monday, as the case remains under investigation by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The deadly crash took place in Katy, a Houston suburb, when the driver of a Tesla Model 3 left the roadway at a “high rate of speed” and slammed into a brick home, according to a report from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver, identified in the report as Michael Butler, was cooperative and did not show signs of intoxication, and said he was using his car’s automated driving assistance program.
The victim, identified as Marcela Avila, was a 76-year-old grandmother, her family told local station KHOU 11, and was transported by helicopter to a hospital where she was eventually pronounced dead from injuries sustained during the crash.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
What to Watch For
It’s still unclear how the driver lost control of his vehicle, and if the car’s driver-assistance mode was working when the crash occurred. “We’re still evaluating what caused that car to fail to control its speed just before this crash,” Sgt. A. Turman told ABC 13 after the crash, adding, “we’ve asked people who are familiar with Teslas, as well as the driver involved in the car, to see what role the driver’s control over the car played in this crash.”
What Are Tesla’s Automated Driving Features?
Tesla previously called its automated driver assistance systems “Autopilot” until facing regulatory pressure in February. These features still come standard in Tesla vehicles, including traffic-aware cruise control and standard safety features like corrective steering with lanes, emergency braking and blind spot monitoring. Tesla’s higher tier, called Full Self-Driving, includes more autonomous driving features, and comes in a $99 per month subscription. It was not immediately clear which program the driver was using, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office report only indicated the driver was “operating with an automated driving assistance system engaged at the time of the crash.”
Key Background
Tesla’s self-driving features have faced numerous investigations and recalls over the years, most notably in 2023 when over 2 million vehicles were recalled after an NHTSA probe found drivers were often “unprepared” while using the Autopilot feature. The company also faced a lawsuit from the family of a driver who died after a fatal crash in 2019. The driver of a Model X swerved into a highway median while its Autopilot feature was engaged. The company eventually settled the lawsuit.
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