A Harris County family is mourning the loss of a 76-year-old grandmother after a Tesla crashed into her family’s home on Friday, while questions remain about whether the vehicle’s automated driving system played a role in the deadly incident.
Martha Avila died after a Tesla Model 3 slammed into her Katy-area residence, according to investigators and family members.
The crash occurred around 8 p.m. on June 19 when the vehicle, driven by 44-year-old Michael Butler, left the roadway and struck the brick home at a high rate of speed, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities said Butler was operating the Tesla with an automated driving assistance system before the collision. Investigators reported that the vehicle failed to remain in a single lane before leaving the roadway and crashing through the brick home.
According to family members, Avila was in the front room of the house, the playroom, when the Tesla crashed through the wall and continued into the playroom, then into the kitchen, causing major damage to the home. Avila suffered catastrophic injuries and was airlifted to a hospital, where she later died.
Butler was also injured in the crash and was taken to the hospital by ambulance, NBC News reported.
Video provided by the family reportedly shows the vehicle plowing directly into the residence at a high rate of speed.
Tesla Executive Disputes Autopilot Claim
The crash has drawn national attention after the driver allegedly told investigators the vehicle was operating on autopilot when it struck the home.
Elon Musk commented on the allegations on X, writing, “Yes, this makes no sense. FSD [Full Self-Driving] drives slowly through neighborhood streets and this was a high speed crash!”
Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s vice president of Autopilot, responded to Musk, stating that the driver manually overrode the vehicle’s self-driving functions.
“Yup. In this case, the driver manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100% of the accelerator pedal in this residential area,” Elluswamy wrote. “They reached a speed of 73 mph during the crash, and had the accelerator pressed even after the crash.”
Authorities have not publicly confirmed Butler’s allegations.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
“At this time, investigators have found no evidence of a mechanical malfunction,” the sheriff’s office said, NBC News reported. “However, it is important to note that the investigation is not complete. Once all evidence has been gathered, the investigative file will be presented to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether criminal charges are appropriate.”
Despite widespread speculation surrounding the cause of the crash, family members urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work.
“Nothing’s been proven yet,” said Justin Barbour, the homeowner and Avila’s son-in-law, per ABC 13. “Everyone online is jumping to conclusions, and the world has enough animosity among people already.”
Investigators said Butler showed no signs of intoxication and has cooperated with authorities. As of Tuesday, no criminal charges had been filed. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing.
Family Remembers Martha Avila
Family members said Avila had lived with them for 11 years and served as a caregiver for the household’s three children.
“She was a blessing,” her daughter, Jennifer Barbour, said, per ABC 13. “I honestly don’t know what I would do without her. She never complained during the 11 years she lived with us.”
“My mom was such a caring woman,” she added, per CBS News.
The Barbour family is mourning the loss of their beloved family member while living in hotels and trying to figure out their next steps.
