Tesla Autopilot Crash in Texas Kills Woman Inside Her Home

A Tesla’s autopilot feature has claimed a life in a crash in Texas, where the car struck a house and killed a woman inside. The Tesla Model 3, driven by Michael Butler with the automated driver-assistance system engaged, left the roadway and collided with the home at high speed, according to local authorities. Martha Avila, 76, who was standing in the front room, was hit. She was airlifted by medical helicopter to hospital but later pronounced dead. Officials have not disclosed the vehicle’s speed. An evaluation is ongoing to determine why the car failed to control its speed. “We are still evaluating what caused the vehicle to fail to control its speed prior to the crash,” said Sergeant Alex Turman of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, as quoted by the New York Times. Butler reportedly showed no signs of intoxication and is cooperating with the investigation. His condition, including whether he sustained injuries, remains unknown. Tesla vehicles are equipped with an autopilot function, but the manual stipulates that drivers must keep their hands on the wheel and take over if necessary while the car is in motion. Due to the autopilot feature, Tesla previously recalled more than two million vehicles in 2023 after federal regulators said the carmaker had not done enough to ensure drivers remain alert when using the software. A series of other accidents involving Tesla’s autopilot have also occurred, including a fatal crash in 2018 that led to a lawsuit blaming the software, which Tesla settled in 2024.