KATY, Texas (KIAH) — A 76-year-old woman has died after authorities said a Tesla crashed into a house in the Katy, Texas, area.
The wreck occurred at about 8 p.m. Friday at a residence on Blooming Park Lane.
According to deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the 44-year-old driver told investigators the Tesla was operating on Autopilot. Home surveillance video showed the vehicle leaving the roadway and slamming into the house at a high rate of speed, deputies said.
The woman inside the home, identified as Martha Avilia Mantilla, was hurt in the crash and flown by Life Flight to a nearby hospital, officials said. She was later pronounced dead from her injuries.
Mantilla’s daughter, Jennifer Barbour, shared surveillance footage of the crash on her Facebook page. The video can be viewed at the top of this article.
“This is the Tesla driver flying into my home. My mom didn’t deserve this,” Barbour said.
Investigators said they are still examining whether the driver’s actions, Tesla’s Autopilot system, or both may have contributed to the deadly crash.
A GoFundMe page was created to support the family of Martha Avila Mantilla following the incident.
“[Our] home is now uninhabitable and under investigation, forcing our family into temporary housing while they cope with this unimaginable loss,” the GoFundMe page reads.
