Tesla driver – A Tesla Model 3 crash in Katy, Texas, on Friday night killed M. Avila after the vehicle entered a brick home at high speed. The driver, Michael Butler, told investigators an automated driving-assistance system was engaged, and authorities said there were no si
Around 8:03 p.m. on Friday in Katy, Texas, a Tesla Model 3 left the roadway and slammed into a brick residence—entering the home at a high rate of speed, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver, Michael Butler, told investigators that an automated driving-assistance system was engaged, the sheriff’s office said in a statement released Saturday. The sheriff’s office also reported that Butler “failed to drive in a single lane, left the roadway, and struck the residence.”
The Tesla then hit M. Avila, who was inside the home. The sheriff’s office said Avila was flown by medical helicopter to a local hospital, where she later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Authorities said there were no signs of intoxication on Butler and that he was cooperative during the investigation. The sheriff’s office added that it was not clear which Tesla features Butler was using at the time of the crash. noting that the company offers Autopilot and full self driving capabilities.
Tesla’s guidance for those systems emphasizes that they are meant for a “fully attentive driver” who should be ready to take over at any time. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the case remains under investigation.
Tesla did not respond to a Business Insider request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Business Insider could not locate Butler.
The crash lands amid ongoing scrutiny of driver-assistance features in courtrooms and regulatory reviews. Last year. a Florida jury found Tesla partially liable in a 2019 crash in which a driver hit another vehicle while Autopilot was engaged. In a separate case. a California judge ruled last year that Tesla’s branding of the feature as “Autopilot” was misleading. a decision that led the company to change its name.
Tesla Autopilot full self driving Katy Texas Harris County Sheriff’s Office vehicle crash Michael Butler M. Avila
So the car just… drove into a house? wild.
It says “assistance system was engaged” but then also says he didn’t stay in a lane. Sounds like people just trust the car too much. I wonder if it was Autopilot or like cruise control or whatever.
Not sure why Tesla keeps getting away with it. “Fully attentive driver” yeah ok but if the car is calling it autopilot, people are gonna treat it like autopilot. Also didn’t they change the name thing in California? Seems like this is the same problem just in Texas.
I’m calling it right now, the brick house thing is on Tesla’s “full self driving” marketing. Like if it’s not clear which features were on, that means Tesla can’t even figure out what they were using. And no intoxication doesn’t mean no distraction… maybe he was messing with the screen or something.