Federal safety regulators are investigating a fatal crash in Katy, Texas, where a Tesla left a residential road and slammed into a home, killing a 76-year-old woman inside. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday it is examining the June 20 crash, after the driver told deputies his vehicle was on Autopilot at the moment of impact.
According to initial reports, the vehicle tore through a brick wall before entering the living room where the victim was sitting. She was airlifted to a hospital but later pronounced dead. The driver, identified by CleanTechnica as Michael Butler, survived the crash. The incident marks another high-profile collision involving Tesla's driver-assistance system.
The crash occurred on a residential street in Katy, a suburb west of Houston. The vehicle, described as a Model Y by CleanTechnica and a Model 3 by Electrek, left the roadway under unclear circumstances. Investigators are expected to examine data logs and vehicle telemetry to determine the system's engagement status.
The probe adds to growing scrutiny of Tesla's Autopilot technology, which has been linked to multiple fatal crashes. The NHTSA has previously investigated over 35 incidents involving the system. Critics argue that the name "Autopilot" may mislead drivers into over-relying on the feature, while Tesla maintains that drivers must remain attentive at all times.
A potential counterargument is that human error or environmental factors, not system failure, could have caused the crash. Autopilot is designed as a driver-assist feature, and the driver's account of its engagement has yet to be verified by telemetry data. The NHTSA's investigation will aim to clarify these unknowns.