In brief
A fatal Tesla crash occurred in Texas on 19 June when a Model 3 drove off the road and into a residence, killing a 76‑year‑old woman. The driver claimed the car was in an automated driving‑assist mode and was not intoxicated. The NHTSA has launched a special investigation into the incident and the vehicle’s full self‑driving technology. The inquiry, separate from local police work, may lead to safety recalls if deficiencies are found.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a formal investigation into a fatal crash in Texas involving a Tesla that drove off the road and into a home on 19 June.
Police reports say a Tesla Model 3 at high speed failed to turn correctly, veered onto the roadway, and struck a residence where a 76‑year‑old woman was inside. She was taken to a hospital but died later from her injuries.
The driver, who was not found to be intoxicated, told investigators that the car was operating with an automated driving‑assistance system at the time of the incident. A special crash investigation by NHTSA will examine the vehicle’s systems, the driver’s actions and whether the car’s “full self‑driving (assisted)” technology contributed to the crash.
NHTSA’s inquiry is separate from the local police investigation and is the agency’s most in‑depth, detailed form of research. While it does not aim to penalise Tesla immediately, findings could lead to safety recalls or other regulatory actions.
The crash follows earlier NHTSA scrutiny of Tesla’s FSD performance in inclement weather and a letter from Senators Markey and Blumenthal urging deeper safety evaluations of automated driving systems across the automobile industry.
