UMVA has learned that a devastating crash involving a Tesla in Autopilot mode has claimed the life of a 76-year-old woman and injured another man in Texas on Friday night.
The harrowing incident occurred when the Tesla Model 3, driven by Michael Butler, veered off a residential street in Katy and crashed through the side of a house at a high rate of speed. Butler had been using the car's Autopilot mode at the time of the crash, and authorities say he failed to keep the vehicle in a single lane.
The vehicle struck Martha Avila, who was inside her home when the Tesla barreled into the house. Avila was rushed to a local hospital via Life Flight, where she was tragically pronounced dead from her injuries.
Butler, who was taken to the hospital by ambulance, showed no signs of intoxication and is cooperating with the investigation. His current condition is unknown, but authorities say he is providing them with necessary information.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Tesla's website emphasizes that drivers must remain fully attentive and ready to take control of the vehicle at any moment, even when using Autopilot mode. The website explicitly states that these features are designed to become more capable over time but do not make the vehicle autonomous.
In a concerning trend, Tesla had recalled over two million vehicles in 2023 following a two-year investigation by a national safety agency into numerous crashes while in Autopilot mode. This latest incident raises further questions about the safety and reliability of Autopilot technology.
