NTSB preliminary report confirms driver overrode Tesla FSD before fatal Texas crash

The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report indicating that the driver of a Tesla Model Y manually overrode the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system by pressing the accelerator pedal to full throttle in the seconds before a fatal collision in Texas. The report confirms that FSD was engaged at the time of the crash, but electronic data shows the driver accelerated to more than 70 mph and continued straight through an intersection, striking a residence where 76-year-old Martha Avila was killed.

Tesla’s vice president of AI software, Ashok Elluswamy, said internal data corroborated the finding that the driver manually overrode the system. The NTSB noted that security-camera footage captured the vehicle’s path as it left the roadway and hit the home.

Police reports indicate the driver, 44-year-old Michael Butler, was working as a DoorDash delivery driver when the incident occurred. Butler has been charged with manslaughter and is being held on a $150,000 bond. The victim’s family has filed a civil lawsuit alleging negligence by both Butler and Tesla.

Investigators have not identified any mechanical malfunction, though the lawsuit cites a known Tesla defect called “Sudden Unintended Acceleration.” The NTSB said the investigation remains ongoing and will issue safety recommendations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also opened a special investigation.