Ekhbary News Agency | 2026-05-12T14:30:00Z
Katy, Texas, USA — In the wake of a fatal weekend crash where a Tesla Model 3 plowed into a Katy, Texas home, killing a 76-year-old woman, the company has pushed back against the narrative surrounding its driver assistance technology. The incident occurred Friday night when the Tesla, driven by Michael Butler, left the road and struck the residence of Martha Avila. Butler reportedly told sheriff's deputies the vehicle was on Autopilot.
Tesla Cites Driver Input in Fatal Collision
Breaking its usual silence, Tesla's VP of AI Software, Ashok Elluswamy, took to social media Monday to present a different account. He stated that data showed the driver manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator pedal to 100%. Elluswamy added the vehicle reached 73 mph during the crash and the accelerator remained pressed even after impact. Elon Musk amplified this point, questioning the logic of Autopilot being solely responsible for a high-speed neighborhood crash.
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Federal Investigation Underway
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed it has opened a special crash investigation into the incident. This probe is reportedly one of over 40 the agency has launched into Tesla crashes suspected of involving advanced driver-assistance systems. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office will present its findings to the district attorney to determine if criminal charges are warranted. The exact state of the Autopilot system, whether active, overridden, or malfunctioning, remains to be determined by investigators.
