A Texas man has been charged with manslaughter following a June 19 crash in which his Tesla Model 3 struck a home and killed a woman inside. Investigators determined he overrode the Full Self-Driving system by flooring the accelerator.
Michael David Butler, 44, of Richmond, was driving a 2025 Tesla Model 3 while making DoorDash deliveries in Katy, Texas. The vehicle, operating under FSD, accelerated to 73 mph after Butler pressed the accelerator pedal to the floor for about six seconds. It struck the curb, became airborne, and crashed through the brick wall of Martha Avila’s home. Avila, 76, suffered fatal injuries and died at the hospital.
Black box data showed no braking in the final minute and no mechanical errors. Medical tests found no evidence of impairment or medical emergency. Butler had told paramedics he passed out or was distracted by the navigation screen. Phone records revealed prior Google searches including “Tesla FSD not aggressive enough 2026” and “FSD is not aggressive enough for city driving.”
Butler was arrested and charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony, on July 1. He is held in Harris County Jail on $150,000 bond, with his next court hearing scheduled for Monday. Avila’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Butler and Tesla.