Tesla Model 3 crash in Texas kills woman, NHTSA opens investigation

On June 19, a Tesla Model 3 driven by Michael Butler left Katy, Texas, roadway at high speed and slammed into a residential home, killing 76‑year‑old resident Martha Avila. The driver told investigators he was using the vehicle’s automated driver‑assistance system at the time of the crash.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a special crash investigation, the agency’s most in‑depth inquiry, to determine whether the Autopilot or Full Self‑Driving (FSD) feature contributed to the loss of control. Tesla officials, including Vice President of Autopilot Ashok Elluswamy, argue that the driver manually overrode the system by flooring the accelerator, while CEO Elon Musk has said the incident “makes no sense” because FSD normally operates at low speeds in neighborhoods.

The probe adds to a series of federal investigations into Tesla’s driver‑assistance technologies—NHTSA has launched nearly 50 special investigations involving Tesla since 2016, linked to about two dozen deaths. Lawmakers have also pressed the agency to scrutinize the safety of Autopilot and FSD. The incident has drawn renewed market and regulatory attention to Tesla’s autonomous‑driving claims.