Tesla driver in fatal Texas crash overrode FSD by pressing accelerator ‘100 percent,’ investigators confirm
The US National Transportation Safety Board has confirmed that a Tesla driver involved in a fatal crash in Katy, Texas, manually overrode the car's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system by pressing the accelerator to 100 percent. The finding is significant because it points to driver action, rather than a fault in the software, as the immediate cause of a crash that killed a woman in her own home, and it comes as Tesla's FSD technology faces wider regulatory scrutiny in the US.
Electronic data from the Model 3, driven by 44-year-old Michael Butler, showed the car reached speeds above 70mph on a two-lane residential road with a 30mph limit before ploughing into the house of 76-year-old Martha Avila, killing her. Conditions were clear, dry and daylit at the time. Tesla's head of AI, Ashok Elluswamy, corroborated the NTSB's account, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also investigating. Butler, who has been arrested and charged with manslaughter, told hospital staff he recalled engaging self-driving mode before passing out; his phone reportedly showed recent searches such as "FSD is not aggressive enough for city driving."
In short
- NTSB confirms driver pushed accelerator to 100%, overriding Tesla's FSD
- Crash in Katy, Texas killed 76-year-old Martha Avila in her home
- Driver Michael Butler, 44, arrested and charged with manslaughter
Explained simply
Full Self-Driving is Tesla's advanced driver assistance system that enables vehicles to drive with reduced human input, though drivers must remain attentive and ready to take control if necessary. The system is available to Tesla owners but represents developing technology still being refined.
In 2024, a Tesla Model 3 crashed into a residential home in Katy, Texas, killing Martha Avila, a 76-year-old resident. The vehicle was travelling at speeds exceeding 70mph on a residential road with a 30mph speed limit in clear, daylight conditions. The driver, Michael Butler, had activated the vehicle's self-driving system before the crash occurred.
The incident has raised questions about how self-driving systems operate and the responsibilities of drivers when such technology is engaged. The crash is contributing to broader regulatory scrutiny of Tesla's FSD technology in the United States.