A Tesla Model 3 using automated driving features crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, near Houston, killing a 76-year-old woman, Martha Avila. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a special investigation into the incident.
Investigation Underway
The driver told the Harris County Sheriff’s Office that he was using the automated driving feature, but it’s unclear what role it played in the crash. The head of Tesla’s artificial intelligence efforts suggested on social media that the self-driving feature was not to blame, stating that the driver had manually overridden it by pressing the accelerator.
The NHTSA has launched several investigations into Tesla, including one into 58 incidents where Teslas reportedly violated traffic safety laws while using self-driving technology. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of automated driving features.
The crash occurred when the Tesla traveled at high speed over the front lawn of a brick home and rammed into a front room. The police report noted that the driver was not drunk and is cooperating with the investigation.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
