Texas grandmother killed after self-driving Tesla crashes into home
76-year-old Martha Avila died from injuries sustained after an out-of-control Tesla crashed into her home on Friday, June 19, 2026. The driver of the Tesla was also taken to the hospital. (Credit: Jennifer Barbour via Storyful)
An elderly woman was killed and another man was injured after a rogue Tesla in Autopilot mode crashed into a home in Texas on Friday night, local officials say.
According to a press release from the Harris County Sheriff's Department, Michael Butler was traveling eastbound down a residential street in Katy in a Tesla Model 3. Butler said that he was using the car's Autopilot mode at the time of the crash.
The sheriff's department said that Butler failed to drive in a single lane, left the roadway and crashed through the side of a house. Ring doorbell footage of the crash shows the vehicle crashing into the home at a high rate of speed.
Wild Ring doorbell camera footage shows a Tesla Model 3 careening into the side of a home in Katy, TX. (Jennifer Barbour via Storyful)
The vehicle struck 76-year-old Martha Avila, who was inside the residence when the vehicle barreled into the home. Avila was transported via Life Flight to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead from her injuries.
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The driver of the vehicle said the car was in Autopilot mode at the time of the crash. (Christopher Goodney/Bloomberg)
Butler was taken to the hospital by ambulance and showed no signs of intoxication. His condition is currently unknown and authorities say he is cooperating with the investigation.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has previously launched a probe into Tesla's autopilot feature following several crashes. (John Paraskevas/Newsday RM/Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital reached out to Tesla for comment. The company's website notes that drivers are supposed to remain ready to drive, even when on Autopilot mode.
"Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability are intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment," the website says. "While these features are designed to become more capable over time, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle autonomous."
In 2023, Tesla recalled more than two million vehicles following a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after numerous crashes were reported while in Autopilot mode.
