US opens probe into fatal Tesla crash into Texas home
WASHINGTON — A U.S. agency said Monday it is investigating a June 19 fatal crash in which a Tesla Model 3 reportedly using an advanced driver-assistance system crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, fatally injuring a 76-year-old woman.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched nearly 50 special crash investigations since 2016 into incidents involving Tesla, where advanced driver assistance systems such as Autopilot were suspected to be used, and nearly two dozen deaths have been reported.
Separately, NHTSA in March expanded its investigation to 3.2 million Tesla vehicles with Full Self-Driving driver assistance over concerns that the system failed to detect or warn drivers with poor visibility.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the fatal Texas crash. It was unclear which system the driver was using.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a statement about the
NHTSA initiates more than 100 special accident investigations a year, typically into emerging technologies and other potential automobile safety issues. Such research has previously helped develop safety rules for airbags. This is the first Tesla SCI investigation opened since July 2023 and only the second this year, following an investigation into a fatal Toyota crash in Louisiana in April.
In October, NHTSA launched a separate investigation into 2.88 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD, citing more than 50 traffic safety violations and a number of crash reports.
Tesla has recalled 2 million vehicles (nearly all electric vehicles on US roads) in 2023 to ensure drivers are more careful when using its Autopilot advanced driver assistance system.
