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1 person killed after Tesla on autopilot crashes through Texas home
NBC News • • business
Key Points:
- A Tesla Model 3 in autopilot mode crashed through a brick home in Katy, Texas, resulting in the death of 76-year-old Martha Avila, who was inside the house at the time.
- The driver, Michael Butler, was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed, showed no signs of intoxication, and was cooperative with authorities; he was also injured and hospitalized.
- Neighbors described the crash as loud and shocking, with security footage showing the Tesla moving quickly through the subdivision before the impact.
- Tesla has not commented on the incident, which is under ongoing investigation amid broader scrutiny of the company's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features.
- Tesla's Autopilot system has faced regulatory challenges, including a recall of over 2 million vehicles in 2023 and a 2025 court ruling that criticized the company's marketing for misleading claims about the technology's capabilities.
