The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on June 23 that it had opened a special investigation into the accident, which occurred on June 19 near Houston, Texas. Initial reports indicate that a Tesla Model 3 crashed into a home, killing a 76-year-old woman who was inside.
An NHTSA spokesperson confirmed: 'NHTSA is conducting a Special Crash Investigation into this crash.' Tesla, the largest U.S. electric vehicle maker, has not yet issued an official comment.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office (Texas) said the driver stated they were using the Tesla Model 3's driver-assist system when the vehicle left the road and struck the residence. Police noted the driver showed no signs of intoxication and is cooperating with investigators.
However, on social media platform X, Tesla CEO Elon Musk refuted claims that the car was in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode at the time of the incident. He wrote: 'FSD drives slowly on residential streets, whereas this crash occurred at high speed!'
Tesla vice president of AI, Ashok Elluswamy, also denied company liability, posting on X that the driver had actively overridden the system by pressing the accelerator pedal. According to Elluswamy, the vehicle was traveling at 73 miles per hour (approximately 117 km/h) at impact, and the accelerator pedal remained engaged after the crash. He did not provide sources for this information.
Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, has long promoted autonomous driving technology as a cornerstone of Tesla's long-term strategy. He previously predicted that 90% of U.S. driving would become automated within a decade. However, Tesla's current FSD technology is not yet fully autonomous and always requires human supervision.
Tesla's self-driving systems have faced increased scrutiny following reports of fatal accidents involving the technology. In October 2024, NHTSA opened an investigation to determine 'the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences' of the technology after 58 reported incidents in which Teslas ran red lights or swerved into oncoming lanes. By March 2025, the agency expanded its probe into the system's performance in low-visibility conditions such as fog, glare, or other obstructions.
Tesla rejects allegations that its autonomous technology endangers drivers or pedestrians, arguing it is ten times safer than a human driver on average.
