US officials will investigate Tesla Model S cars after first fatality

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday it is opening a preliminary investigation into 25,000 Tesla Motors Model S cars after a fatal crash involving a vehicle using the “autopilot” mode.

The agency said the crash came in a 2015 Model S operating with automated driving systems engaged, and “calls for an examination of the design and performance of any driving aids in use at the time of the crash.” It is the first step before the agency could seek to order a recall if it believed the vehicles were unsafe.

The safety administration said the driver was killed on May 7 in Williston, Florida, when using autopilot mode.

Tesla says the death of driver “is the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles where autopilot was activated.”