The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report detailing the tragic incident in Katy, Texas, where a Tesla vehicle collided with a home, resulting in the death of 76-year-old Martha Avila in June.
The report indicates that a 2025 Tesla Model 3, driven by a 44-year-old man, was traveling east on Rose Hollow Lane when it veered off the road, partially entered a driveway, and crashed into the residence. Eyewitness accounts and preliminary findings suggest that the driver had activated Tesla’s Full Self Driving feature prior to the incident.
According to the data retrieved from the vehicle, the driver manually overrode the Full Self Driving system by fully pressing the accelerator pedal, which caused the car to exceed a speed of 70 miles per hour at the moment of the crash. This speed notably surpasses the posted limit of 30 miles per hour for the area.
The driver, identified as Michael Butler, has since been charged with manslaughter in relation to this tragic event. The investigation continues as authorities analyze the circumstances surrounding the crash.
