Key facts
- A Tesla Model 3 crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila.
- The driver, Michael Butler, told authorities the vehicle's Autopilot system was engaged.
- Tesla stated data indicated the driver manually overrode the system, reaching 73 mph and accelerating after impact.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a special investigation into the crash.
- The Harris County Sheriff’s Office will determine if criminal charges are warranted.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a special investigation into a fatal Tesla crash in Katy, Texas, where a Model 3 slammed into a home at high speed, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila. The driver, Michael Butler, told the Harris County Sheriff’s Office that he was using the vehicle's automated driving technology at the time of the incident.
However, Tesla has contested this narrative. Ashok Elluswamy, director of Tesla's Autopilot software, stated on X that data indicated the driver manually overrode the system by pressing the accelerator to 100%, reaching 73 mph and continuing to accelerate after impact. Elon Musk amplified this point, questioning the plausibility of Autopilot causing such a high-speed collision.
The NHTSA's special investigation is one of 46 such probes into Tesla vehicles using self-driving or driver-assistance technology over the past decade, according to agency records. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office will present its findings to the local district attorney to decide if criminal charges are warranted.