Texas Charges Driver, 44, in Tesla Crash That Killed 76-Year-Old as Data Shows 100% Throttle
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 2
Texas Charges Driver, 44, in Tesla Crash That Killed 76-Year-Old as Data Shows 100% Throttle
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 2
Summary
Michael David Butler, 44, was charged with manslaughter after his Tesla Model 3 crashed into a Katy, Texas, home in June and killed 76-year-old Martha Avila.
Police said Butler was using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving while making DoorDash deliveries, but the accelerator was pressed to 100% just before impact, overriding the system’s normal behavior.
Avila’s surviving family has sued Butler and Tesla, arguing responsibility lies with the driver, the automaker, or both for the fatal crash.
The case adds to scrutiny of Tesla driver-assistance systems, which the lawsuit ties to earlier reporting on deaths and injuries in crashes involving the technology.