Tesla Autopilot Crash Kills Woman in Texas Home
A 76-year-old woman, Martha Avila, was killed when a Tesla Model 3 operating on autopilot crashed into her home in Katy, Texas on Friday, June 21, 2026. The driver, Michael Butler, told authorities the vehicle was in autopilot mode and showed no signs of impairment.
What happened
A Tesla Model 3 operating on autopilot crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, around 8 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2026, breaching a brick wall and striking 76-year-old Martha Avila inside her residence.
The driver, Michael Butler, told responding deputies the vehicle was in autopilot mode. He showed no signs of intoxication and was cooperating with investigators.
Reported impact
Martha Avila was transported to a local hospital via medical helicopter but was later pronounced dead from her injuries.
Avila's daughter, Jennifer Barbour, described finding her mother pinned against a wall after the vehicle struck her. Barbour reported hearing a loud boom and discovered the crash had created a gaping hole in the front of her home.
Index analysis
Neighbor security camera footage obtained by CNN appears to show the vehicle traveling at high speed on a neighborhood street before the crash.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.