Federal Agencies Probe Fatal Tesla Crash Into Texas Home
Federal authorities have launched multiple investigations into a fatal accident that occurred on June 19 in Katy, Texas. A Tesla Model 3 traveled at a high rate of speed, leaving the roadway and crashing directly into a brick home. The impact killed 76-year-old Martha Avila, who was inside the residence at the time.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a Special Crash Investigation, which is the agency's most detailed form of inquiry. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on June 24 that it is working with the Harris County Sheriff's Office to investigate the collision.
According to police reports, the driver, identified as Michael Butler, told investigators that an automated driving assistance system was engaged during the crash. Authorities noted that Butler was not intoxicated and has been cooperating with the investigation. Video footage shows the vehicle crossing a front lawn before ramming into a room of the house.
Tesla executives have disputed the claim that the automated technology was responsible for the accident. Ashok Elluswamy, the company's head of AI, stated on X that the driver manually overrode the self-driving feature by pressing the accelerator to 100%. Elluswamy claimed the vehicle reached 73 mph during the crash and that the accelerator remained pressed even after the impact.
Elon Musk also contested reports that the vehicle was in Full Self-Driving mode, arguing that the system typically drives slowly through residential neighborhoods, whereas this was a high-speed crash.
The incident occurs amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny of Tesla's driver-assistance systems. The NHTSA has previously opened probes into other incidents involving Tesla vehicles violating traffic laws and has investigated the company's promptness in reporting crashes.
