Overview
- A Tesla Model 3 left the roadway and barreled through the front of a brick house in Katy, Texas, on Friday night, striking 76‑year‑old Martha Avila, who was airlifted to a hospital and later died.
- The 44‑year‑old driver, Michael Butler, was injured, showed no signs of intoxication and told deputies the car was operating with an automated driving‑assistance system; that claim has not been independently verified.
- Newly released doorbell and neighborhood surveillance video show the Tesla speeding, appearing to hit a curb and then entering the home, which investigators are using as a key piece of evidence.
- Harris County vehicular‑crimes investigators are examining vehicle speed, driver actions and the car's onboard data and automated systems, and no criminal charges had been announced in initial reports.
- The crash arrives as federal regulators and courts have intensified scrutiny of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self‑Driving software, and investigators say findings here could feed broader safety and regulatory reviews.