The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a special investigation into the fatal crash of a Tesla Model 3 that occurred on Friday near Katy, Texas. The incident resulted in the death of Martha Avila, a 76-year-old woman who was standing inside her home when it was struck by the vehicle traveling at high speed.
According to police reports obtained from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the driver had been using Tesla's automated driving feature known as Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. However, it is unclear what role this technology played in causing the crash. The sheriff’s office confirmed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol and has cooperated fully with investigators.
Video footage obtained by KHOU-TV shows the car traveling at high speed over the front lawn before crashing into a brick home's living room area, embedding itself within the structure amidst debris from collapsed walls and scattered furniture. The incident highlights concerns about the safety implications of advanced autonomous driving technologies currently being deployed in consumer vehicles.
This latest investigation follows several others initiated by NHTSA involving Tesla’s self-driving technology over the past decade. In recent months alone, the agency has opened probes into 58 incidents where Teslas allegedly violated traffic laws while operating with FSD engaged, resulting in multiple crashes and injuries. Additionally, there were investigations concerning delayed crash reporting by Tesla.
Tesla did not provide immediate comment regarding this latest incident or its broader safety concerns related to automated driving features. The company’s CEO Elon Musk continues to emphasize the importance of autonomous technology for future growth plans, including deployment across a networked fleet of robotaxis in major U.S. cities later this year.
The stock market reaction to such incidents has been mixed but generally less severe than prior political controversies involving Musk. Tesla shares have recovered some ground over the past year as investor focus shifted towards advancements in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicle technology rather than traditional car sales metrics.