Tesla Driver Reportedly Said Driver-Assistance Mode Was Engaged During Fatal Texas Home Crash
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.
- Date it happened
- 2026-06-19
- Organisation involved
- Michael Butler, Drivers
- Product, system or model
- Tesla Autopilot, Automated driving systems
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