76-year-old Woman Killed When A Tesla ‘running On Auto-pilot’ Crashed Into Her Texas Home

A 76-year-old female was killed aft a Tesla, which nan driver said was moving connected “autopilot,” collapsed into her home.

Michael Butler was driving a Tesla Model 3 successful Katy, Texas, connected Friday evening erstwhile nan car ran into a location astatine a “high complaint of speed” and struck Martha Avila, who was inside, according to nan Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Avila was flown to a adjacent hospital, wherever she was pronounced dead.

“I deliberation her life was trim very short,” her girl Jennifer Barbour told KHOU 11. “My mom is ace generous and sweet. She was ace healthy, she was 76, connected nary medication, nothing, had nary wellness issues. She would person made it to 100 for illustration my grandma.”

Butler, who was besides taken to a hospital, told constabulary he had nan car connected “autopilot” erstwhile it crashed, according to Terry Allbritton, Harris County Precinct 5’s constable. He showed “no signs of intoxication” and has cooperated pinch investigators, nan sheriff’s agency noted.

It remains unclear whether he faces immoderate charges and nan investigation is ongoing.

Photos from nan segment show debris scattered successful nan gait and a monolithic spread successful nan beforehand of nan home. Barbour told KHOU 11 she lived astatine nan location pinch her hubby and 3 children, and that nan Tesla collapsed into nan kids’ playroom.

“My 3 kids were astatine my neighbor’s erstwhile we went to nan infirmary to cheque connected my mom. And past they told america they couldn’t prevention her,” Barbour said.

“We came backmost and we told nan kids. The kids are devastated, and we brought them backmost to nan hotel. We’ve been present since. I’m still wearing nan aforesaid apparel from yesterday,” she added. “I don’t cognize if it’s his responsibility aliases nan car’s responsibility aliases what really happened. I’ve ne'er seen a car spell that fast.”

The family has since launched a GoFundMe page to raise costs for emergency surviving expenses and ceremonial costs.

“The location is now uninhabitable and nether investigation, forcing our family into impermanent lodging while they header pinch this unimaginable loss,” nan page reads.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Vehicular Crimes Division is investigating nan crash. No charges person been revenge successful relationship pinch nan incident, KHOU 11 reports.

The Independent has contacted nan Harris County Sheriff’s Office for comment.