The National Transportation Safety Board has released preliminary findings on a June crash in Katy, Texas, that killed a 76-year-old woman inside her home. The report concludes the 44-year-old driver manually overrode the Tesla's Full Self-Driving system moments before impact.
The crash occurred on June 19, 2026, when a 2025 Tesla Model 3 left Rose Hollow Lane at over 70 miles per hour and struck a residence. Data from the vehicle showed the driver pressed the accelerator pedal to 100 percent, overriding FSD (Supervised) on a street with a 30 mph limit.
NTSB investigators confirmed clear weather and dry roads at the time of the incident around 8:03 p.m. The driver, identified as Michael Butler, sustained minor injuries, while Martha Avila, who was inside the home, was killed.
Butler has been charged with manslaughter. His family has filed a lawsuit against both Butler and Tesla alleging negligence. The NTSB investigation continues, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also conducting a separate probe into FSD-equipped vehicles.
Tesla Vice President of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy stated on X that the driver manually overrode the system by pressing the accelerator fully, a detail now confirmed by vehicle data.
