Tesla Driver Faces Manslaughter Charge After Fatal Home Crash
WHO:
NBC News - Michael David Butler's bail was set at $150,000, with requirements to wear an ankle monitor and not drive.
NBC News - Michael David Butler, 44, has been charged with manslaughter.
NBC News - Martha Avila, a 76-year-old grandmother, was killed in the crash.
The Guardian - Ed Gonzalez is the sheriff of Harris County, Texas.
The Guardian - Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla.
The Guardian - Ashok Elluswamy is Tesla’s vice-president of artificial intelligence software.
WHAT:
The Guardian - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it was launching an investigation into the crash.
The Guardian - Tesla recalled about 2 million cars in 2023 to ensure that drivers pay attention when using the autopilot feature.
NBC News - Butler was operating his Tesla Model 3 in Full Self-Driving mode when it crashed into Avila’s home.
NBC News - Butler's speed reached 73 miles per hour, more than double the legal limit.
NBC News - The brake pedal was not used in the minute before the crash.
The Guardian - Butler has been jailed on a count of manslaughter.
The Guardian - Avila’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla on June 23.
The Guardian - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened nearly 50 special investigations into Tesla crashes since 2016.
WHERE:
NBC News - The crash occurred in Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston.
The Guardian - The crash involved a home in Katy, Texas.
WHEN:
The Guardian - The NTSB's investigation was announced one day after Avila’s family filed the wrongful death lawsuit on June 23.
NBC News - The crash occurred on June 19.
The Guardian - Butler had a court hearing tentatively scheduled for July 6.
The Guardian - Avila’s family filed the civil complaint on June 23.
WHY:
The Guardian - The lawsuit filed by Avila’s family alleged gross negligence and failure to warn that the Tesla Model 3’s systems were defective.
NBC News - Butler was allegedly distracted while making a DoorDash delivery run when he changed the music on the Tesla’s touchscreen.
The Guardian - Texas law defines manslaughter as recklessly causing the death of an individual.
HOW:
The Guardian - Tesla's vice-president stated that Butler "manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100% of the accel pedal in [the] residential area."
NBC News - Butler told police he was using the Tesla's automated driving assistance system, claiming the car was on ‘Autopilot’.
The Guardian - Tesla's vice-president stated that Butler manually overrode the self-driving mode by flooring the accelerator.
(UPDATED July 4, 2026 17:22 UTC)
The National Transportation Safety Board is launching an investigation into a crash that occurred shortly after Avila’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on June 23, alleging gross negligence related to Tesla's Model 3 systems. In a related development, Michael David Butler's bail has been set at $150,000, with conditions that he wear an ankle monitor and refrain from driving. Tesla has previously recalled about 2 million cars in 2023 to ensure drivers remain attentive while using the autopilot feature, and according to Tesla's vice-president, Butler manually overrode the self-driving system by fully pressing the accelerator in a residential area.
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(UPDATED July 4, 2026 11:22 UTC)
Michael David Butler, 44, has been charged with manslaughter after his Tesla Model 3, operating in Full Self-Driving mode, crashed into the home of 76-year-old Martha Avila, resulting in her death. Reports indicate that Butler was driving at a speed of 73 miles per hour, more than double the legal limit, and did not use the brake pedal in the minute leading up to the crash, which occurred in Katy, Texas, on June 19. Avila's family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla, while Butler is currently jailed and has a court hearing tentatively scheduled for July 6.