Woman, 76, dies after self-driving Tesla crashes into Texas home

A fatal crash involving a self-driving Tesla has prompted a thorough investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The incident occurred in Katy, Texas, where a 76-year-old woman, Martha Avila, was killed when a Tesla reportedly traveling at high speed crashed through her daughter's home.

The driver of the Tesla stated that the vehicle's self-driving function was engaged at the time of the accident. Police reported that the driver lost control on a curve, driving over the front yard and into the house. Avila, who was inside the home with her daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren, sustained fatal injuries. The driver, who was also hospitalized, is cooperating with authorities and was not under the influence of alcohol.

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The driver pressed the accelerator pedal 100 percent and reached a speed of approximately 117 kilometers per hour.

NHTSA has launched a "special crash investigation," one of its most comprehensive, to determine the role of the vehicle's technology. These investigations are often initiated when new vehicle technology may be a factor and can lead to safety adjustments or recalls. Tesla has not officially commented, but Ashok Elluswamy, the company's head of AI, suggested on social media that the driver misused the accelerator, pressing it fully and reaching approximately 117 km/h. He claimed the pedal remained depressed even after impact, a claim yet to be confirmed.

This is not the first time Tesla's driver-assistance systems have come under scrutiny. NHTSA has opened 46 special investigations into Tesla accidents involving active driver-assistance systems over the past decade, with more than 12 resulting in fatalities. Meanwhile, Tesla's FSD system recently received approval to operate in Belgium, following its earlier approval in the Netherlands.

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The driver pressed the accelerator pedal 100 percent and reached a speed of approximately 117 kilometers per hour. The accelerator pedal remained depressed even after impact.