Tesla admits FSD was on in fatal Texas crash, blames driver for ‘overriding’ it

Tesla confirmed its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system was engaged during a fatal crash in Katy, Texas, on March 15, 2023, where a Model 3 veered off a residential road and killed a 76-year-old woman. The company stated that the driver overrode the system by accelerating to 100% throttle, suggesting a pedal misapplication while the vehicle was under FSD control. This admission comes after initial reports indicated the FSD system was not engaged. Tesla's internal investigation, detailed in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), concluded that the driver's input was the primary cause of the incident. The vehicle's data logs showed the accelerator pedal was depressed to its maximum position for approximately 5 seconds before impact, despite the FSD system's intention to decelerate. The crash occurred at a speed of 71 mph in a 30 mph zone. The victim, identified as the homeowner, was struck inside her residence. Tesla's statement aims to clarify the circumstances, attributing the fatal outcome to driver error rather than a malfunction of the FSD software.