A family in Katy, Texas, is searching for answers after a Tesla crashed into their home, killing a 76-year-old grandmother. According to ABC News, authorities say a Tesla Model 3 was speeding on the road before slamming into the family's house, where Martha Avila was inside at the time of the impact.
Avila's daughter, Jennifer Barber, was in the backyard when the crash happened. She shared doorbell camera video that captured the moment the vehicle struck the home. The footage has added to the family's anguish as they try to understand how such a sudden and violent crash could have occurred at their own house.
Speaking about the loss, Barber described it as a horrible way for her mother to die and said the family expects to be traumatized by living in the home going forward. She said the family simply wants answers about why it happened, and that she is seeking justice for her mother.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 44-year-old Michael Butler. Investigators said the driver showed no signs of intoxication and has not been charged at this stage. Authorities said they are still evaluating exactly what caused the car to fail to control its speed in the moments just before the crash.
The deadly crash has renewed questions about the safety of so-called autopilot and driver-assistance technology in some cars. While the cause of this particular crash has not been determined, the incident has drawn fresh attention to how such systems perform and how much they rely on drivers staying fully attentive behind the wheel.
Tesla's driver-assistance system has faced scrutiny before. Back in 2023, the company recalled more than two million cars after regulators raised concerns that the system did not adequately ensure that drivers stayed attentive. That recall followed several crashes, including some fatal incidents that were linked to the technology.
Concerns have continued more recently. In April, a driver said his Tesla, using its so-called self-driving technology, suddenly accelerated through a railroad gate in Plano, Texas, barely missing an oncoming train. Tesla has not commented on the latest crash in Katy, and the investigation into the cause remains ongoing.