Tesla Driver Using Autopilot Crashes Into Home, Killing a Woman, Officials Say

A Tesla crashed into a house in Katy, Texas, on Friday night, killing a woman who was standing inside. The driver, Michael Butler, told investigators he had the car's autopilot system turned on when it left the road. The crash happened around 8 p.m. in Harris County, about 30 miles west of Houston.

Harris County Sheriff's Office said Butler was driving a Tesla Model 3 with an automated driving assistance system turned on. The car failed to stay in its lane, left the road, and slammed into the home at high speed. A front-door security camera recorded the moment the Tesla plowed through the driveway and crashed into the brick wall of the house.

The woman struck by the car was Martha Avila, 76 years old. She was standing in the front room when the Tesla crashed through the wall. A medical helicopter rushed her to a hospital, but she was later pronounced dead. Her death is now being investigated by the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said Butler showed no signs of drinking or drug use and cooperated with police. Sergeant Alex Turman said officials are still trying to figure out why the car did not slow down before impact. It was not clear if Butler was hurt in the crash. Tesla did not respond to questions about the accident or its software.

Tesla's autopilot feature lets the car steer, speed up, and brake on its own. It is popular with many drivers, but it has been connected to accidents over the years. Tesla's own manuals say drivers must keep their hands on the wheel and be ready to take control at any moment.

In 2023, Tesla had to recall more than two million vehicles after the U.S. government said the company had not done enough to make sure drivers were paying attention while using autopilot. That investigation started in August 2021 after several crashes — some fatal — involving the technology. In 2024, Tesla also settled a lawsuit tied to the death of a California man in 2018, which blamed the autopilot software.