AI Incident Database: Tesla Driver Reportedly Said Driver-Assistance Mode Was Engaged During Fatal Texas Home Crash
On June 19, 2026, Michael Butler's Tesla Model 3 reportedly left the roadway in Katy, Texas, and struck a home at high speed, killing resident Martha Avila. Butler reportedly told investigators that an automated driving-assistance system was engaged. Tesla's Autopilot vice president reportedly later said Butler had manually overridden self-driving by fully depressing the accelerator. Local authorities and NHTSA have opened investigations.
AI Incident Database · Incident 1552Operator lens (critical): inspect D4 (observability), D5 (model change gate), D6 (autonomy oversight).
Event summary
On June 19, 2026, Michael Butler's Tesla Model 3 reportedly left the roadway in Katy, Texas, and struck a home at high speed, killing resident Martha Avila. Butler reportedly told investigators that an automated driving-assistance system was engaged. Tesla's Autopilot vice president reportedly later said Butler had manually overridden self-driving by fully depressing the accelerator. Local authorities and NHTSA have opened investigations.
Linked entities
- tesla
organisation | 70%
- automated-driving-system-developers
organisation | 70%
- michael-butler
organisation | 70%
- drivers
organisation | 70%
- martha-avila
organisation | 70%
- home-occupants
organisation | 70%
- building-occupants
organisation | 70%
Related graph edges
| Edge | Type | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d4 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d4 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d4 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d5 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d5 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d5 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d1 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d1 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d1 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d4 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d4 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-tesla to ent-psf-d4 | maps to | 60% |