WATCH: Tesla in Self-Driving Mode Slams Texas Home, Kills Grandmother
A Tesla crashed into a Texas home at high speed on Friday, killing a woman inside and leaving a neighborhood shaken. The driver said the car was in self-driving mode at the time of the wreck.
Doorbell footage obtained by Fox shows a blue Tesla Model 3 flying through the front yard before it smashed into the house. Another video from a nearby residence shows the car racing through the neighborhood moments before the collision.
Authorities say the vehicle was speeding and blew through an intersection before missing its turn and crashing into the home. The impact killed 76-year-old Martha Avila Mantilla, a grandmother who was inside the house.
Law enforcement says the driver, 44-year-old Michael Butler, showed no signs of intoxication and is cooperating with investigators. At this point, he is not facing charges.
The crash is likely to draw even more attention to Tesla’s driver-assistance systems, which are already under federal scrutiny. Tesla is currently facing a federal investigation into roughly 3 million vehicles and a possible recall tied to its self-driving technology.
Neighbors said the crash happened in a flash. One neighbor described the scene this way: “It just flew straight into their home,” a neighbor said. “It happened so quick.”
What stands out here is how fast it all happened. A car moving at high speed in a quiet neighborhood turned a normal day into a deadly one. The footage makes that painfully clear.
Investigators will now have to sort out the chain of events, including how the car was being operated and whether the technology played a role in the crash. For the family and neighbors, though, the damage is already done.
Via ABC News: