A 44-year-old driver told investigators his Tesla was on Autopilot when it crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, killing a 76-year-old woman inside. The incident occurred Friday evening and remains under investigation.
The crash took place around 8 p.m. Friday in the 21300 block of Rose Hollow Lane. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle failed to turn right at an intersection and struck the front room of the residence at high speed.
The woman inside was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The driver showed no signs of intoxication and has been cooperating with authorities. No charges have been filed.
Investigators are examining whether the vehicle’s driver-assistance features played a role. Sgt. Alex Turman of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the cause has not been determined and that they are working to understand the driver’s control over the car.
The driver’s account of Autopilot use has not been independently confirmed. Tesla’s systems are already under federal scrutiny by NHTSA, including an engineering analysis opened in March 2026 into roughly 2.9 million vehicles.