Fatal Tesla Crash in Texas Under NHTSA Investigation Over Autopilot Claims
A Tesla Model 3 crashed into a Katy, Texas home at high speed, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila. Driver Michael Butler claimed automated driving assistance was engaged, but Tesla’s AI chief said he manually overrode the system. NHTSA launched a Special Crash Investigation, adding to ongoing scrutiny of Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features. Butler showed no signs of intoxication and cooperated with authorities.
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Tesla driver pressed accelerator 'pedal to the metal' before fatal crash into Texas home, killing woman
A Texas man, Michael David Butler, 44, crashed a Tesla Model 3 into a Harris County home on June 19, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila. According to an arrest affidavit, Butler was using Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system but manually overrode it, pressing the accelerator pedal 100% for about six seconds before impact. The vehicle reached 73 mph, more than double the residential speed limit, struck a curb, and went airborne into the home. The brake pedal was not pressed in the final minute, and no mechanical error was found. Butler was charged with manslaughter and is held on a $150,000 bond. Tesla officials stated the driver manually overrode the self-driving system. The incident adds to regulatory and legal scrutiny of Tesla's driver-assistance technologies.
All Content from Business InsiderTesla Faces Fresh Scrutiny: Wrongful-Death Lawsuit and NTSB Probe Over Texas Crash
Tesla Inc. is facing renewed legal and regulatory pressure following a fatal crash in Katy, Texas, involving a Model 3 sedan that killed 76-year-old Martha Avila. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it will investigate the incident, which is already under scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The victim's family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging gross negligence and failure to warn about defects in Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems, seeking over $1 million in damages plus punitive damages. The driver reportedly told police he activated Autopilot before the vehicle crashed through the victim's home. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and AI lead Ashok Elluswamy denied FSD involvement, claiming the driver disengaged Autopilot by pressing the accelerator. Investor Gary Black criticized Tesla's lack of proactive PR strategy to counter negative narratives.
Yahoo FinanceMusk Denies Full Self-Driving Role in Fatal Texas Tesla Crash
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is disputing claims that the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software was responsible for a crash that killed 76-year-old Martha Avila in Katy, Texas. The incident occurred last Friday when a Tesla drove through the front of Avila's home. Police and the driver involved have indicated that Tesla's automated driving system may have been engaged, but Musk argues that the circumstances surrounding the crash do not align with the capabilities of FSD. The article highlights ongoing controversy over the safety and reliability of Tesla's autonomous driving technology, as investigations continue into the cause of the fatal accident.
Just In NewsNHTSA Probes Tesla Crash in Texas That Killed 76-Year-Old Woman
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Monday it is investigating a Tesla Model 3 crash in Katy, Texas, that killed 76-year-old Martha Avila. The vehicle, driven by Michael Butler, left its lane and slammed into a home. Authorities said Butler told them he was using Tesla's partially automated driving systems at the time. The incident adds to over three dozen NHTSA special crash investigations involving Tesla's driver assistance systems since 2016. Tesla's Autopilot branding was changed in February 2026 following legal pressure from the California DMV over false advertising. A separate crash in Clairemont, California, in May also saw a Tesla crash into a house, with the driver reportedly using Autopilot. Tesla has long promised full autonomy and robotaxi capabilities, but safety concerns persist amid rising fatalities linked to its systems.
US Top News and AnalysisTesla Driver Claims Autopilot Use in Fatal Texas Crash Prompts Federal Probe
A Tesla driver in Katy, Texas, claimed he was using the car's Autopilot feature when his Model 3 left the roadway at high speed and crashed into a brick home, killing 76-year-old Marcela Avila. The driver, Michael Butler, was cooperative and showed no signs of intoxication. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a special crash investigation, as reported first by the Wall Street Journal. The Harris County Sheriff's Office also continues its investigation. The incident marks another high-profile case involving Tesla's advanced driver-assistance system, which the company markets as Autopilot, under regulatory scrutiny.
Forbes - BusinessUS Regulators Probe Fatal Tesla Crash; Tesla AI Chief Says Driver Overrode Self-Driving Feature
US federal regulators from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) have launched a Special Crash Investigation into a fatal collision in Katy, Texas, where a Tesla Model 3 crashed through a brick home, killing a woman inside. The driver, Michael Butler, told authorities an automated driving-assistance system was engaged. However, Tesla's head of AI, Ashok Elluswamy, disputed this account, stating that Butler manually overrode the self-driving feature by pressing the accelerator to 100%, reaching 73 mph in a residential area, and continued pressing the accelerator after the crash. The Harris County Sheriff's Office confirmed no signs of intoxication and ongoing cooperation. The incident adds to growing scrutiny of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features, which have faced legal challenges and regulatory action, including a Florida jury finding Tesla partially liable in a 2019 crash and a California judge ruling the 'Autopilot' branding misleading.
All Content from Business InsiderTesla crash into Texas home kills woman; driver using automated assistance
A woman in Katy, Texas, died after a Tesla Model 3, driven by Michael Butler, crashed through a brick home at high speed around 8:03 p.m. on Friday. The Harris County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Butler said an automated driving-assistance system was engaged at the time, though it remains unclear whether it was Autopilot or Full Self-Driving mode. The victim, identified as M. Avila, was airlifted to a hospital but later died from her injuries. Butler showed no signs of intoxication and cooperated with investigators. The crash adds to ongoing scrutiny of Tesla's driver-assistance features in courts and by regulators. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.
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