What caused the fatal Tesla crash in Texas?

According to NTSB data, the driver fully pressed the accelerator pedal, disabling the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system, resulting in a collision at over 112 km/h.

What charges are being brought against the Tesla driver?

The driver faces involuntary manslaughter and negligence charges. A civil lawsuit has also been filed against him and Tesla by the victim’s family.

How did Tesla respond to the incident?

Tesla stated that Full Self-Driving was not at fault, as it is not designed for high-speed driving in residential areas.

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Hardware

NTSB Confirms: Tesla Driver Accelerated to 112 km/h Before Fatal Crash

July 15, 2026

Photo: TechCrunch

Quick answer

A Tesla driver in Texas disabled the Full Self-Driving system by pressing the accelerator pedal fully, leading to a fatal crash at 112 km/h.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released preliminary findings from its investigation into a June Tesla crash in Texas. According to the report, the driver pressed the accelerator pedal to 100%, fully overriding the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system. The vehicle traveled at over 112 km/h in a 48 km/h zone before crashing into a home and killing 76-year-old Martha Avila.

The victim’s family has filed a lawsuit against 44-year-old driver Michael Butler and Tesla, alleging negligence. Butler faces involuntary manslaughter charges. Investigators noted that he claimed to have lost consciousness while searching online for ways to make Full Self-Driving more aggressive.

Tesla previously stated that its Autopilot system was not at fault in the incident. CEO Elon Musk wrote on X* that Full Self-Driving is not intended for high-speed driving in residential areas. The NTSB confirmed that weather conditions were favorable and the road surface was dry during the crash.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also conducting its own review of the crash circumstances.

Common questions

What caused the fatal Tesla crash in Texas?: According to NTSB data, the driver fully pressed the accelerator pedal, disabling the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system, resulting in a collision at over 112 km/h.
What charges are being brought against the Tesla driver?: The driver faces involuntary manslaughter and negligence charges. A civil lawsuit has also been filed against him and Tesla by the victim’s family.
How did Tesla respond to the incident?: Tesla stated that Full Self-Driving was not at fault, as it is not designed for high-speed driving in residential areas.

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