A 76-year-old woman died on Friday after a Tesla Model 3 slammed into her home at high speed in the Houston area. The woman was transported by medical helicopter to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The driver, identified by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office as Michael Butler, told officials he was using the vehicle's Autopilot feature and automated driving assistance system at the time he lost control and crashed into the residence.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the top U.S. auto regulator, opened a special investigation into the crash on Monday. The federal probe focuses on the use of the automated driving technology, which Tesla touts as lifesaving.