The family of a 76-year-old woman killed when a Tesla Model 3 struck her Katy, Texas, home has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company and the driver. The June 19 crash occurred while the vehicle was reportedly using an automated driving system.
Jennifer and Justin Barbour filed the suit in Harris County District Court this week. They accuse Tesla of a design defect in the car's Full Self-Driving or Autopilot features and seek more than $1 million in damages. The complaint also names driver Michael Butler, 44, alleging negligence.
Martha Avila was standing inside her home when the vehicle hit it at around 8 p.m. She died after being airlifted to a hospital. Justin Barbour, who was also inside, suffered multiple injuries. Butler told authorities the assisted driving system was engaged, though police have not confirmed this and no criminal charges have been filed.
Tesla disputes that its technology caused the crash. Elon Musk stated on X that the high speed made Full Self-Driving use unlikely. Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's head of AI, said Butler pressed the accelerator fully, reaching 73 mph. The family alleges the system failed to detect the end of the street or warn of danger.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the incident. The family thanked first responders and medical staff for their efforts during the tragedy.