The company stated in an investigative report launched Wednesday on the fiery April 17, 2021 crash within the Houston suburb of Spring that the 59-year-old Tesla driver apparently moved to the again seat after slamming into the automotive’s entrance air bag, deforming the steering wheel within the crash.

Though the crash raised questions on whether or not the automotive was working on Tesla’s “Autopilot” partially automated driving system, the NTSB decided that the system couldn’t have been used on the road the place the crash occurred on account of lack of lane traces. Testing confirmed the automotive’s “Site visitors Conscious Cruise Management” system might have been used, though it will solely work as much as the utmost velocity on the suburban street, 30 mph (50 kilometers per hour), the report stated.

The 2019 Tesla reached 67 mph (108 kilometers per hour) two seconds earlier than hitting the second of two timber at 57 mph (92 kilometers per hour) earlier than being consumed by flames because the lithium-ion battery caught fireplace.

The Tesla’s occasion information recorder confirmed that the accelerator moved “per driver exercise” within the 5 seconds earlier than the crash, and that the driving force’s seat belt was related when the crash occurred.

“Though the driving force’s seat was discovered vacant and the driving force was discovered within the left rear seat, the accessible proof means that the driving force was seated within the driver’s seat on the time of the crash and moved into the rear seat postcrash,” the report stated.

The company discovered that extreme velocity and failure to regulate the automotive on account of alcohol impairment triggered the crash. The report says testing by a Federal Aviation Administration lab discovered that the driving force had a blood-alcohol stage of 0.151 grams per deciliter, nearly twice the Texas authorized restrict of 0.08. Two over-the-counter sedating antihistamine medicines additionally had been discovered within the driver’s blood, in response to the report.

Autopsies decided that the driving force died from blunt pressure trauma, burns and smoke inhalation. The 69-year-old male passenger died from blunt pressure trauma to the torso and extremities, in addition to burns, the report stated.

The company stated safety video from the driving force’s dwelling confirmed the driving force and passenger stepping into the entrance seats earlier than driving away from the house. The automotive traveled about 550 ft (170 meters) earlier than leaving the street on a curve, hitting a storm sewer inlet and raised manhole, sideswiping one tree earlier than hitting one other, the company stated.