A Texas man has been charged with manslaughter after investigators concluded he intentionally accelerated his Tesla, overriding the vehicle's driving assistance system, before it crashed into a home and killed a 76-year-old grandmother.
Michael David Butler, 44, faces charges in connection with the June 19 crash in Katy, where his Tesla Model 3 veered off the roadway, went over a curb, and tore through the front of a suburban home. The victim, Martha Avila, was inside the residence at the time of the collision.
According to an arrest affidavit, investigators seized data from the vehicle's "black box" and reviewed dash camera footage. This evidence led them to conclude that Butler repeatedly pressed the accelerator to its maximum position moments before the impact, overriding Tesla's full Self-Driving system.
Butler, who was reportedly making DoorDash deliveries at the time of the incident, initially claimed he was using the Tesla's technology and was distracted while trying to change music on the car's touchscreen. He also stated he had "passed out" and had no memory of the moments leading up to the crash. Medical examinations reportedly ruled out conditions like a heart attack, seizure, or stroke that could explain his claim of unconsciousness. He tested negative for alcohol and recreational drugs.
Investigators found no evidence of a mechanical fault, unintended acceleration, or vehicle defect. Instead, authorities allege the car automatically slowed as it approached a residential intersection. At that point, Butler allegedly pressed the accelerator fully, causing the vehicle to surge to approximately 73 mph on the residential street before failing to make a left turn. Doorbell footage captured the loud screech of the car as it crashed into the home. There was no indication that Butler attempted to brake before the collision.
Butler's cellphone allegedly contained internet searches made before the crash indicating frustration that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software was not driving aggressively enough. Tesla executives and owner Elon Musk have disputed Butler's account, with Musk stating on social media that the situation "makes no sense" and asserting that the driver pressed the accelerator pedal and kept it pressed even after the crash.
Tesla maintains that its Full Self-Driving system requires continuous driver supervision and that drivers are always responsible for controlling the vehicle. The company stated that the car's data shows the driver pressed the accelerator.
This fatal crash has intensified scrutiny of Tesla's driver-assistance technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is continuing its investigation into incidents involving Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems. A year prior, the NHTSA launched an investigation into approximately 2.9 million Tesla vehicles over concerns about the systems running red lights and driving the wrong way. That probe was upgraded to an engineering analysis in March 2026.
Avila's family has filed a $1 million wrongful death lawsuit against both Butler and Tesla, alleging negligence and arguing the crash could have been prevented.
Butler is currently in custody at the Harris County jail.