Incident #1552
Tesla Driver Reportedly Said Driver-Assistance Mode Was Engaged During Fatal Texas Home Crash
Description
On June 19, 2026, Michael Butler's Tesla Model 3 reportedly left the roadway in Katy, Texas, and struck a home at high speed, killing resident Martha Avila. Butler reportedly told investigators that an automated driving-assistance system was engaged. Tesla's Autopilot vice president reportedly later said Butler had manually overridden self-driving by fully depressing the accelerator. Local authorities and NHTSA have opened investigations.
Actors
Alleged Deployers
- michael-butler
- drivers
Alleged Developers
- tesla
- automated-driving-system-developers
Harmed Parties
- martha-avila
- home-occupants
- building-occupants