NHTSA investigating fatal Tesla Model 3 crash in California

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an Special Crash Investigation into a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model 3 that occurred on July 5 in California, according to Automotive News. The accident caused the death of the other driver involved as well as a three-year-old infant that was in the vehicle. It is suspected that the Tesla's driver assistance systems, such as Autopilot, may have been active at the time of the accident.

The safety investigation in question is different to those conducted to determine whether a recall is necessary. Rather, these sort of special safety probes help the NHTSA determine what caused the accident. Typically, the NHTSA conducts around 100 of these Special Crash Investigations each year, and the data gathered from the investigations helps shape laws and industry standards.

Earlier this year, the NHTSA launched a similar investigation into another fatal incident wherein a Tesla crashed into a parked fire truck, resulting in the death of the driver of the Tesla. As we barrel towards a future automotive industry rife with self-driving cars and autonomous driving and safety features, it's important that these investigations take place to ensure that the features operate as promised and can be trusted.

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