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Incident · Regulatory action

NHTSA opens special investigation into fatal Tesla Model 3 crash into Katy, Texas home that killed Martha Avila (June 19 2026)

NHTSA opened a special investigation on June 22, 2026 into a Tesla Model 3 crash on June 19 in Katy, Texas (near Houston) that killed 76-year-old Martha Avila inside her home. The driver told the Harris County Sheriff's Office he was using an automated driving feature (FSD).

NHTSA has opened 46 special crash investigations involving Teslas using self-driving or driver-assistance technology over the past decade, with more than a dozen involving fatalities. The driver was later charged with manslaughter on July 1, 2026.

Occurred 2026-06-22 · Tesla Robotaxi (Model Y ADS) at Orlando, Florida, USA · Tesla · Orlando, Florida, USA · Robotaxis · Investigated by NHTSA

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Incident records on DEPLOY are compiled from public sources (regulatory filings, news reports, and operator disclosures) and reflect what has been reported and tracked to date. They are not legal findings, determinations of fault, or safety ratings, and may be updated as new information is verified. See the sources below for the underlying references.
Track NHTSA opens special investigation into fatal Tesla Model 3 crash into Katy, Texas home that killed Martha Avila (June 19 2026)

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Sources (4)

  1. Reuters · https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-opens-probe-into-fatal-tesla-crash-into-texas-home-2026-06-22/
  2. CNBC · https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/22/tesla-nhtsa-model-3-crash-autopilot-katy-texas.html
  3. New York Times · https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/22/business/tesla-texas-autopilot-crash-nhtsa.html
  4. https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

Common questions

What happened in NHTSA opens special investigation into fatal Tesla Model 3 crash into Katy, Texas home that killed Martha Avila (June 19 2026)?
NHTSA opened a special investigation on June 22, 2026 into a Tesla Model 3 crash on June 19 in Katy, Texas (near Houston) that killed 76-year-old Martha Avila inside her home. The driver told the Harris County Sheriff's Office he was using an automated driving feature (FSD). NHTSA has opened 46 special crash investigations involving Teslas using self-driving or driver-assistance technology over the past decade, with more than a dozen involving fatalities. The driver was later charged with manslaughter on July 1, 2026.
When did this incident occur?
The incident is recorded as occurring on June 22, 2026 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.
What robot was involved in NHTSA opens special investigation into fatal Tesla Model 3 crash into Katy, Texas home that killed Martha Avila (June 19 2026)?
Tesla Robotaxi (Model Y ADS) by Tesla is the recorded robot involved in this incident at Orlando, Florida, USA.
Has anyone responded to NHTSA opens special investigation into fatal Tesla Model 3 crash into Katy, Texas home that killed Martha Avila (June 19 2026)?
No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.
What is the current status of NHTSA opens special investigation into fatal Tesla Model 3 crash into Katy, Texas home that killed Martha Avila (June 19 2026)?
This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.
Methodology: Verified · 4 sources (1 primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-14

Verification posture

Verified

High confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-07-14

Sources by quality tier

3
secondary-established-publication
Established publication
1
primary-regulatory-filing
Regulatory filing

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for NHTSA opens special investigation into fatal Tesla Model 3 crash into Katy, Texas home that killed Martha Avila (June 19 2026).

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Canonical ID 8ef53ce4-1bb7-43ef-975c-1f0989ea20e6