A 76-year-old woman died and a man was hurt Friday night after a Tesla that the driver said was operating in Autopilot mode veered off course and slammed into a Texas home, authorities said.
In a statement, the Harris County Sheriff’s Department said Michael Butler was driving a Tesla Model 3 eastbound on a residential street in Katy when the crash occurred. Butler told investigators the vehicle was in Autopilot mode at the time.
Deputies said Butler did not stay within a single lane, left the roadway and plowed through the side of the house. Ring doorbell video captured the Tesla striking the residence at what appeared to be a high speed.
Dramatic Ring doorbell footage shows a Tesla Model 3 barreling into the side of a home in Katy, Texas. (Jennifer Barbour via Storyful)
The car hit Martha Avila, 76, who was inside the home when the vehicle crashed through the wall. Avila was flown by Life Flight to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
The driver told authorities the Tesla was using Autopilot mode when the crash happened. (Christopher Goodney/Bloomberg)
ALSO READ: Election Day: Find Out Which Banks and Services Are Open Nationwide
Butler was transported to a hospital by ambulance, and officials said he did not show signs of impairment. His current condition has not been released, and investigators said he is cooperating with the ongoing probe.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has previously opened investigations into Tesla’s Autopilot system after a series of crashes. (John Paraskevas/Newsday RM/Getty Images)
News Agency reached out to Tesla for comment. The company’s website notes that drivers are supposed to remain ready to drive, even when on Autopilot mode.
“Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability are intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment,” the website says. “While these features are designed to become more capable over time, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle autonomous.”
In 2023, Tesla recalled more than two million vehicles following a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after numerous crashes were reported while in Autopilot mode.
