US SAFETY REGULATOR OPENS INQUIRY INTO TESLA CRASH THAT KILLED WOMAN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal investigation on Monday into a Tesla crash that occurred on 19 June in Texas. A man driving the vehicle left the road and struck a home, according to local police reports. A woman inside the house sustained severe injuries and subsequently died. The driver was not intoxicated, police stated, but said the Tesla was operating an automated driving assistance system at the time of the incident.

The NHTSA has launched what it describes as a Special Crash Investigation into the accident. According to the agency's website, this form of inquiry represents the most in-depth and detailed investigation the regulator conducts. Tesla, which is owned by Elon Musk, did not respond to a request for comment regarding either the crash or the formal investigation.

The NHTSA's decision to open a Special Crash Investigation signals the agency's intent to examine the circumstances of the crash in detail. The inquiry will likely examine the vehicle's systems and operating conditions at the time of the incident. No further information has been released regarding the investigation's scope or expected timeline.