A driver accused of using Tesla's Autopilot when his vehicle crashed into a home and killed a grandmother has been charged with manslaughter. Michael Butler, 44, was arrested by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, a day after he drove his Tesla Model 3 into a residence in Katy, Texas, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila.
According to authorities, Butler's vehicle was traveling at more than 70 miles per hour when it veered off the road, went over a lawn, and crashed through the front of Avila's home on June 19. Avila was reportedly putting away groceries at the time of the incident and was struck by the vehicle. She sustained severe injuries and was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
Butler also suffered serious injuries in the crash. Investigators stated that Butler had initially told them the vehicle's self-driving system was engaged. However, Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's head of AI, shared on social media that data from the incident indicated Butler "manually overrode" the Autopilot feature.
"In this case, the driver manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100% of the accel pedal in this residential area," Elluswamy stated, adding that the vehicle reached 73 mph during the crash and that the accelerator remained pressed even after impact.
Ávila’s family has filed a lawsuit against both Butler and Tesla, alleging that Butler's actions and Tesla's driver-assistance technology contributed to the fatal collision. The family has also been forced to relocate due to the extensive damage to their home. Investigators have found no indication that Butler was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. The precise cause of the crash remains under investigation.