Tesla Driver's Actions Confirmed in Fatal Texas Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has shed light on the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash in Texas, where the driver of a Tesla pressed the accelerator pedal to 100%
The NTSB's preliminary report reveals that the vehicle was traveling at a high speed of over 70 miles per hour when it struck a house in Katy, Texas. This information confirms Tesla's initial account of the crash, which the company shared in the days following the incident.
The family of the victim, 76-year-old Martha Avila, has since sued the alleged driver, 44-year-old Michael Butler, and Tesla, alleging negligence. Butler has also been charged with manslaughter.
According to the NTSB, the Tesla driver was using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) on Rose Hollow Lane, a residential two-lane road with a speed limit of 30 miles per hour, prior to the crash. Security camera footage obtained by the safety board shows the car accelerating through an intersection, leaving the road, and hitting the house.
The "weather was clear, the roadway was dry, and daylight conditions were present," according to the NTSB. This information raises questions about the effectiveness of Tesla's advanced driver assistance system.
Tesla requires that drivers using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) pay attention to the road and be ready to take control at any moment. However, the alleged driver, Michael Butler, reportedly told authorities that he had "passed out" and was using Tesla's driver assistance system.
Police discovered that Butler's Google searches included terms such as "Tesla FSD not aggressive enough 2026," "Tesla not aggressive enough," and "Tesla FSD too timid," according to local ABC news affiliate station KTRK TV. These searches suggest that Butler may have been seeking ways to make Tesla's system more aggressive.
The NTSB's preliminary report is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also probing the incident.
The incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of advanced driver assistance systems.