The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened an investigation into a May 7th fatal crash involving a Tesla electric car. At the time of the accident, it is believed that the “Autopilot” was controlling the vehicle while the driver was distracted. Witnessed say the driver of the car may have been watching a movie when the collision happened.

In a statement released by Tesla, “When a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S, neither the driver or autopilot noticed the white side of the trailer against the brightly lit sky. No brakes were applied and the Model S passed under the trailer, with the bottom of the trailer impacting the windshield of the Model S.” According to Florida Highway Patrol, the car continued to travel east on U.S. 27A until it left the roadway on the south shoulder and struck a fence. The car smashed through two fences, struck a power pole and rotated counter-clockwise until it came to its final resting place about 100 feet south of the highway.

Tesla offered their condolences adding that the tragic accident is the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles where Autopilot was activated – compared to a fatality every 94 million miles in the US and one every 60 million miles worldwide. Statistically speaking, the Autopilot is still safer than the average vehicle. The NHTSA said the crash calls for an examination of the design and performance of any driving aids in use at the time of the crash. The outcome of the investigation could have a big impact in the future use of autopilot systems in the auto industry.