Katy, Texas — A Texas man has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly crashing his Tesla Model 3 into a home at high speed, killing a 76-year-old grandmother. The charge comes after Tesla said vehicle data indicates the driver manually overrode the car’s driver-ᴀssistance system by fully depressing the accelerator before and even after the collision.

According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Butler, 44, was arrested in connection with the June 19 crash that claimed the life of Martha Ávila, 76, in Katy, Texas.

Investigators allege Butler drove off the roadway, crossed a front lawn, and slammed into Ávila’s brick home at a speed of more than 70 mph, leaving a mᴀssive hole in the front of the residence.

At the time of the crash, Ávila was reportedly putting away groceries inside her home. She was airlifted to a nearby hospital but later died from her injuries.

Butler also sustained serious injuries in the collision.

During the investigation, Butler told authorities that Tesla’s Autopilot system was engaged when the crash occurred.

However, Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s head of AI, disputed that the vehicle was operating independently at the time of impact.

In a post on X, Elluswamy said Tesla’s vehicle data showed the driver had manually overridden the driver-ᴀssistance system.

“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 wrote.
He added that the vehicle reached 73 mph during the crash and that the accelerator remained fully depressed even after impact.

Ávila’s family has since filed a civil lawsuit against both Butler and Tesla, alleging that Butler’s actions, along with the company’s driver-ᴀssistance technology, contributed to the fatal collision.

Because of the extensive structural damage caused by the crash, the family has also been forced to relocate from the home.

Authorities have stated that there is no indication Butler was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash.

The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation as criminal proceedings and the civil lawsuit move forward.

Source: New York Post