Tesla has challenged reports linking its driver-assistance technology to a fatal crash in Texas that claimed the life of a 76-year-old woman, as federal authorities launch an investigation into the incident.
The collision occurred evening in Katy, Texas, when a Tesla Model 3 left the roadway and crashed into a brick house. The impact fatally injured Martha Avila, who was airlifted to hospital but later died from her injuries. The driver, Michael Butler, reportedly informed Harris County sheriff’s deputies that the vehicle was operating on Autopilot at the time of the crash.
The claim quickly reignited concerns over Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance systems, including Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised), which have long been the subject of scrutiny and debate.
However, Tesla moved to counter that narrativemmmm. Ashok Elluswamy, the company’s Vice-President of AI Software and one of the original engineers behind the Autopilot programme, stated on X that vehicle data indicated the driver had overridden the system.
According to Elluswamy, the driver fully depressed the accelerator pedal while travelling through the residential area, reaching a speed of approximately 73 mph before the collision. He further claimed that the accelerator remained fully engaged even after the crash.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk echoed those remarks, arguing that the allegations surrounding the company’s self-driving technology were inconsistent with the circumstances of the incident. He maintained that the Full Self-Driving system is designed to operate cautiously on neighbourhood streets and suggested that a high-speed crash of this nature was unlikely to have been caused by the software.
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Tesla discontinued its basic Autopilot branding earlier this year following a California ruling that found the name potentially misleading to consumers. Its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package, available through a monthly subscription, can perform functions such as navigation, steering, lane changes and parking, although drivers are required to remain attentive and ready to take control at all times.
Meanwhile, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has confirmed that it has opened a special investigation into the crash. The case joins more than 40 investigations the agency has conducted into Tesla-related accidents involving advanced driver-assistance technologies.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has also indicated that its findings will be submitted to the local district attorney, who will determine whether any criminal charges should be brought.
Investigators are expected to examine the vehicle’s data records to establish whether the driver-assistance system was active, whether it was overridden by the driver, or whether any malfunction may have contributed to the crash.
