NTSB Confirms Tesla Driver Pressed Accelerator to 100% in Fatal Texas Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated on Wednesday that the driver of a Tesla involved in a fatal crash into a house in June had pushed the accelerator pedal to 100% capacity, overriding the company's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software.

Data recovered from the Tesla indicated the vehicle was traveling at over 70 miles per hour when it collided with a house in Katy, Texas, resulting in the death of 76-year-old resident Martha Avila. The victim's family has filed a lawsuit against the alleged driver, Michael Butler, 44, and Tesla, citing negligence. Butler has also been charged with manslaughter.

The safety board released this information as part of a preliminary report on its ongoing investigation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also investigating the incident. The data confirms Tesla's account of the crash, which the company shared shortly after the event to assert that its advanced driver assistance system was not at fault.

According to the NTSB, the 44-year-old driver was utilizing Full Self-Driving (Supervised) on Rose Hollow Lane, a residential road with a 30 mph speed limit, prior to the crash. Security footage obtained by the board showed the car accelerating through an intersection, leaving the roadway, and striking the house. Conditions were clear, dry, and during daylight hours.

Tesla mandates that drivers using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) must remain attentive and ready to take control at any moment. Butler reportedly told authorities he had "passed out" and was using Tesla's driver assistance system.