World

76-year-old killed after Tesla 'on auto-pilot' crashes into her home

Michael Butler was driving a Tesla Model 3 in Katy, Texas, on Friday evening when the car ran into a house at a “high rate of speed” and struck Martha Avila

Updated 4 months ago · Published on 22 Jun 2026 10:53AM

76-year-old killed after Tesla 'on auto-pilot' crashes into her home
Butler allegedly failed to drive in a single lane, left the roadway and struck the residence. - Picture from social media, June 22, 2026

A DRIVER in a Tesla vehicle that was allegedly in self-driving mode crashed into a Texas house Friday night, killing a woman who was inside the home, investigators said.

Michael Butler was driving a Tesla Model 3 in Katy, Texas, on Friday evening when the car ran into a house at a “high rate of speed” and struck Martha Avila, who was inside, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Butler allegedly failed to drive in a single lane, left the roadway and struck the residence.

"Butler's Tesla entered through the brick residence, at a high rate of speed, and struck M. Avila, who was inside the residence," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Avila was airlifted to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead, the sheriff's office said.

According to reports, the incident remains under investigation. Tesla has yet to respond.  – June 22, 2026

Related News

Malaysia / 2d

Women must be given opportunities to shoulder higher-level leadership responsibilities - minister

Malaysia / 3d

Police probe woman over alleged assault of two children at KL shopping mall

Community / 1w

Paya Terubong landslide: Developer, landowner must take responsibility - CM

Malaysia / 1w

Police maintain cordon at Paya Terubong landslide site after doctor’s death

Malaysia / 2w

Preliminary report on helicopter crash in Long Lellang released; probe ongoing

Malaysia / 2w

AKPS officer was seeking divorce before alleged killing, says brother

Spotlight

Malaysia

Asyraf denies Najib ready to pay RM50m fine for house arrest

Malaysia

Malaysia’s average household size falls to 3.8 people

Malaysia

Najib's former wife Tengku Puteri Zainah in critical condition in ICU

Malaysia

More than 117,000 harmful online posts removed as government steps up enforcement

Malaysia

1,000 families receive Deepavali aid to ensure no one misses festive celebrations

Malaysia

Mother, daughter fined RM500 each for obstructing Muar council enforcement officers

Malaysia

Kelantan records 1,446 khalwat cases in three years

Malaysia

Negeri’s deposed Undang, chieftains fail to stop committal proceedings

You may be interested

World

Israeli President certifies election results

World

US midterm election spending to hit record US$12b amid voter backlash against Trump

World

Hackers infiltrated Binance through fake job interviews, compromised AI tools

World

Trump faces Republican revolt after midterm rout puts Democrats in control of Congress

World

Wave of hoax bomb threats disrupts European flights, prompts fighter jet escorts

World

Indonesia deploys troops in Jakarta amid political turmoil over alleged phone-spying scandal

World

Israel election results set for release despite Netanyahu party's fraud allegations

World

Democrats seize control of Congress in sweeping midterm gains across Republican strongholds