A Tesla on autopilot crashed into a house and killed a woman who was just sitting inside.
Federal agents are looking into the Texas crash that took the life of a woman inside her own home.
You expect to be safe inside your own brick home. But a quiet Friday night ended in tragedy when a car crashed right through a wall.
WHAT HAPPENED
Michael Butler was driving his Tesla Model 3 in Katy, Texas, around 8:00 p.m. Police say he was using the car's driver-assist system.
The car left the road and went through a brick house at high speed. It hit M. Avila while she was inside.
An air crew took Avila to the hospital. She died there. Butler was hurt but is speaking with police.
FACT BOX
: What the evidence shows
- The car: A Tesla Model 3.
- The tech: The driver was using a driver-assist system.
- The time: Around 8:00 p.m. on a Friday night.
- The driver: Michael Butler showed no signs of being drunk.
- The probes: Both local police and federal safety agents are looking into the crash.
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THE BIGGER QUESTION
How safe are we when cars drive themselves? Companies sell these systems as the future of safety. But when a car can crash into a living room, we must ask if the tech is safe for our streets.
THE OTHER SIDE
The driver has not been charged with a crime. He is helping police with their search. Right now, it is hard to tell if the driver or the car made the error.
It is too early to say how strong this defense is because we do not have the car's computer logs yet.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
Federal safety agents are starting a new probe into this crash. This joins a growing list of government tests of Tesla's tech. Local police will decide if they will file charges.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- Did the car's computer make the crash happen?
- How fast was the Tesla going when it hit the home?
- Did the car try to brake before the crash?