- A Tesla driver faces manslaughter charges after a fatal Texas crash.
- Investigators say accelerator input reached 100 percent before the collision.
- The victim’s family is also suing Tesla for more than $1 million.
Late last month, a Tesla Model 3 crashed into a house and killed a grandmother inside the building. The driver allegedly blamed Full Self-Driving (Supervised) for the incident. Elon Musk and one of his executives claimed the driver was flooring the throttle. Now, authorities have come out with charges, and they appear to back Tesla up. Despite that, the family of the deceased woman is suing the automaker.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced that 44-year-old Michael Butler has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the June 19 crash that killed Martha Avila. According to investigators, Butler’s Tesla left the roadway in a Katy-area neighborhood, crashed through the front wall of a home, and struck Avila, who later died from her injuries.
Read: Another Tesla Crash, Another Owner Says It ‘Drove On Its Own’
While Butler reportedly told investigators that he had been using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system while making DoorDash deliveries, authorities say the vehicle’s own data tells a more complicated story. According to KPRC, investigators downloaded information from the Tesla’s electronic systems, including video footage, accelerator inputs, braking data, steering information, and speed records.
Perhaps most damaging for Butler’s defense is what investigators say they didn’t find. Authorities report no evidence of braking during the final minute before impact. They also say inspections revealed no mechanical defects, no stuck accelerator, and no floor mat interference that could have contributed to the crash.
Investigators additionally reviewed Butler’s cellphone and reportedly found Google searches made weeks before the crash expressing frustration with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system. Medical testing following the incident found no evidence of a seizure, stroke, heart attack, alcohol impairment, or other drugs.
The case has also attracted federal attention. The NHTSA has opened a special crash investigation to determine whether Tesla’s technology played any role in the incident. Avila’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Butler and Tesla, alleging the automaker’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems were defective while also claiming Butler operated the vehicle negligently. The family is seeking more than $1 million in damages.
