Additional Coverage:
- Grandmother tragically killed when out-of-control Tesla on autopilot smashes into her house (themirror.com)
A tragic incident in Katy, Texas, claimed the life of 76-year-old Martha Avila Mantilla when a Tesla vehicle crashed into her home on the evening of June 19. The accident occurred around 8 p.m. local time, as captured on home security footage shared by her daughter, Jennifer Barbour, and later circulated by Fox News.
The video shows a dark-colored Tesla speeding toward the residence, becoming airborne before smashing through the wall with Martha inside. She was airlifted to the hospital but was pronounced dead.
Jennifer expressed her grief on social media, stating, “This is the Tesla driver flying into my home. My mom didn’t deserve this.”
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the 44-year-old driver, Michael Butler, claimed that the Tesla was operating on Autopilot at the time of the crash. However, investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause and the role of the vehicle’s Autopilot system. Tesla’s internal data and engineering teams have indicated that the driver manually overrode the automated systems, pressing the accelerator fully and reaching speeds up to 73 mph in a residential area before striking a curb and crashing into the house.
In the wake of the tragedy, Martha’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with emergency living expenses, funeral costs, and rebuilding their home, which was severely damaged and deemed uninhabitable. The page describes the event as a devastating loss that forced the family into temporary housing.
The incident has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many expressing sorrow and concern over automated driving technology. Comments highlighted the shock of such a high-speed impact in a neighborhood and the heartbreaking reality of a fatal accident occurring inside one’s own home.
Jennifer shared with KHOU 11 the painful moment she learned of her mother’s passing and described Martha as a generous, sweet, and healthy woman. Authorities continue to investigate the crash to establish all contributing factors.