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 3 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

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