Home / Disasters and Accidents / Tesla Autopilot Crash Kills Elderly Woman in Home
Tesla Autopilot Crash Kills Elderly Woman in Home
22 Jun
Summary
- An elderly woman died after a Tesla in Autopilot mode crashed into her home.
- The driver was using Autopilot and failed to stay in his lane.
- Tesla's website states drivers must remain attentive in Autopilot mode.
An elderly woman has died following a tragic incident where a Tesla, reportedly operating on Autopilot, crashed into her residence. The vehicle, a Model 3, veered off a residential street in Katy, Texas, and plunged through the side of a house.
Seventy-six-year-old Martha Avila was inside the home when the vehicle struck it at a high rate of speed. She was transported to a local hospital but was later pronounced deceased due to her injuries. The driver, Michael Butler, was also hospitalized but showed no signs of intoxication and is cooperating with investigators.
Tesla's guidelines state that Autopilot requires a fully attentive driver ready to take over at any moment, clarifying that the feature does not make the vehicle autonomous. This incident follows a 2023 recall of over two million Tesla vehicles due to issues reported with Autopilot mode.
