US road safety regulators have launched an investigation into a fatal crash involving a Tesla vehicle in Texas after reports indicated that the car's automated driving system may have been engaged at the time of the incident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Monday that it had opened a Special Crash Investigation into the June 19 accident, in which a Tesla Model 3 left the roadway and crashed into a residence near Houston, resulting in the death of a 76-year-old woman inside the home.

“NHTSA is launching a Special Crash Investigation into this crash,” a spokesperson for the agency said in a brief statement.

Driver Reportedly Using Automated Driving System

According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the driver told investigators that he had been using the vehicle's automated driving assistance system when the Model 3 departed the roadway and struck the residence.

Authorities said the driver showed no signs of intoxication and cooperated with investigators following the incident.

The crash has renewed scrutiny over Tesla's driver-assistance technologies, which have been the subject of previous regulatory investigations in the United States.

Tesla Officials Dispute Reports

Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for official comment regarding the investigation.

However, Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk disputed reports that the vehicle had been operating in Full Self-Driving mode at the time of the crash.

In a post on X, Musk stated that Tesla's Full Self-Driving system typically operates at low speeds on residential streets.

“FSD drives slowly through neighborhood streets and this was a high speed crash,” Musk wrote.

Tesla's Vice President of Artificial Intelligence, Ashok Elluswamy, also challenged claims that the company's technology was responsible for the accident.

According to Elluswamy, vehicle data indicated that the driver manually overrode the automated system by pressing the accelerator.

“They reached a speed of 73 mph (117 km/h) during the crash and had the accelerator pressed even after the crash,” he said in a post on X.

Investigation Underway

The NHTSA's Special Crash Investigation program examines incidents involving advanced driver-assistance systems and automated driving technologies, particularly when fatalities occur.

Investigators are expected to review vehicle data, system performance, and other evidence to determine whether Tesla's automated driving features played any role in the crash.

The agency has conducted several investigations into Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems in recent years as regulators continue to assess the safety and limitations of advanced driver-assistance technologies.