It's official: autopilot not responsible for fatal accident involving Tesla Model S in 2021 - accident was caused by speeding

The driver assistance system in the Tesla Model S did not cause a fatal accident in 2021. This is the conclusion reached by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Here's What We Know

The accident happened in April 2021 in Houston, Texas. The victims were two people. During the investigation, the regulator examined all the evidence and found that the driver of the electric car was not using the automatic piloting function at the time of the accident.

Initially, local police assumed that the Tesla Model S had crashed into a tree because it was driving with the driver assistance system on and no one was behind the wheel. This conclusion was reached because the deceased were found in the rear and front passenger seats, while the driver's seat was empty.

An NTSB spokesperson claimed that the cause of the accident was speeding. The driver, who was intoxicated, moved to an adjacent seat after the accident. The Tesla Model S accelerated to 107.2 km/h in a residential area where a speed limit of 48 km/h applies.

Source: NTSB