A Tesla Inc. electrical automobile that “nobody” was driving crashed late Saturday in Texas, killing the 2 passengers, in accordance with native media stories.

One of many victims was within the entrance passenger seat and the opposite was within the rear, in accordance with KPRC 2, an NBC affiliate in Houston. The automobile ran right into a tree and burst into flames within the Carlton Woods subdivision close to The Woodlands after touring at excessive pace and failing to navigate a flip, the tv station reported.

“Nobody was driving,” Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman informed the station, which didn’t report whether or not the Autopilot function was engaged.

Authorities mentioned it took 32,000 gallons of water to extinguish the hearth as a result of the automobile’s batteries saved reigniting, in accordance with the TV station. Tesla and representatives for Harris County Precinct 4 didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark Sunday.

Federal officers have criticized Tesla for fireplace dangers associated to the battery packs in its vehicles and for not doing sufficient to maintain drivers from utilizing its driver-assist function inappropriately. In a listening to final yr, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board’s chairman mentioned that “it’s time to cease enabling drivers in any partially automated automobile to faux that they’ve driverless vehicles.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has defended the safety record of his company’s vehicles. This week, he shared a report on Twitter, saying {that a} Tesla with Autopilot engaged is now approaching a “10 occasions decrease” likelihood of an accident than a median automobile.

Tesla with Autopilot engaged now approaching 10 occasions decrease likelihood of accident than common automobile https://t.co/6lGy52wVhC

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 17, 2021