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Tesla driver in fatal Texas crash overrode FSD by pressing accelerator ‘100 percent,’ investigators confirm
The Tesla Model 3 reached speeds greater than 70mph during the crash, the NTSB found.
The Tesla Model 3 reached speeds greater than 70mph during the crash, the NTSB found.
byEmma Roth
Jul 16, 2026, 11:41 AM EDT
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Photo by David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Emma Rothis a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.
The Tesla driver who fatally struck a woman after crashing into her home “manually overrode” the vehicle’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology by pressing the gas pedal to 100 percent, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed in a preliminary report on Wednesday. After examining the car’s electronic data, investigators found that the Tesla Model 3 reached speeds greater than 70mph during the crash.
In June, 44-year-old Michael Butler’s vehicle plowed into a Katy, Texas home, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila inside. The home is located on a two-lane road with a 30mph speed limit, the NTSB’s report says, adding that “the weather was clear, the roadway was dry, and daylight conditions were present” when the crash occurred.
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The NTSB’s findings align with a statement from Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy, who said the driver “manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100%.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also investigating the crash.
Butler was arrested earlier this month and is facing manslaughter charges. After the crash, Butler told hospital providers that he remembered “putting the car in self driving mode” and that he “passed out,” according to an arrest affidavit. The court document also cites data from Butler’s phone, which includes several FSD-related Google searches, including “Tesla fsd not aggressive enough 2026 model,” “FSD is not aggressive enough for city driving,” and and “tesla fsd too timid.”
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