HOUSTON- A 76-year-old woman died after a Tesla crashed into a home on Friday evening, with the driver reportedly telling deputies the vehicle was using the car’s autopilot feature, authorities said.
Investigators released photos showing a gaping hole in the front of the Houston-area home. The vehicle was still inside the house, and debris was scattered across the lawn.
A neighbor’s security camera video obtained by CNN appears to show the vehicle traveling at a high speed on a neighborhood street before it drives out of frame. A loud noise is heard seconds later.
The Tesla crashed into the front room of the home and hit the woman, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. Authorities said she was taken to a local hospital, where she later died of her injuries.
The driver told responding deputies the vehicle was in autopilot mode, according to Harris County Constable Precinct 5. Deputies said the driver was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The driver showed no signs of intoxication and was cooperating with investigators, CNN affiliate KTRK reported.
A witness described seeing the vehicle speed down the street before the crash. “We were just out here for my little cousin’s 9th birthday when we saw a car flying by down the street, and all we saw was them going about 60, 70 miles per hour. And next thing we know is we hear it hit that curb in that driveway, and it ran into the house,” the witness said.
CNN reported it has reached out to Tesla and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for comment.