GoKawiilAn elderly Texas woman tragically died Friday after a man relying on his Tesla Model 3’s automated driver-assistance mode lost control and crashed his car into her family’s home.
In a statement, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Ars that Michael Butler said that “he was operating with an automated driving assistance system engaged at the time of the crash.” Police are currently investigating whether the autopilot feature in any way caused the crash but confirmed that Butler was not intoxicated and is cooperating, partly by helping cops understand how Tesla’s Autopilot feature works.
“Butler failed to drive in a single lane, left the roadway, and struck the residence” at a “high rate of speed,” the sheriff’s office said.
It remains unclear how fast the car was going, but The New York Times shared a disturbing doorbell camera video of the crash showing the moment when the Tesla plowed through the brick home’s front. On Facebook, the Office of Constable Terry Allbritton shared photos showing the destruction to the home.
Martha Avila, 76, was standing in the front room of the house, where she lived with her daughter, son-in-law, and three young grandkids. Her daughter, Jennifer Barbour, told a local news outlet that no one else was hurt. The family remains “devastated” by the loss, with Barbour emphasizing that Avila was on no medications and in otherwise good health when she passed suddenly from her injuries. She thought her mother might live to 100, the way her grandmother did, she said, and feels Avila was robbed of significant time with her grandkids.
“She didn’t deserve to go that way,” Barbour said.
The family is in mourning while living in a hotel and waiting for answers, stuck in a state of uncertainty over whether the Tesla or the driver is to blame.
“I don’t know if it’s his fault or the car’s fault or what really happened,” Barbour said. “I’ve never seen a car go that fast.”