A Texas man, Michael David Butler, has been charged with manslaughter following a crash involving his Tesla that resulted in the death of a 76-year-old woman, Martha Avila, last month. This incident, which occurred in Katy on 19 June, raises serious questions about the safety of Tesla’s driver-assistance technology.
Butler, aged 44, allegedly engaged the Tesla’s driver-assistance system, known as Autopilot, when he crashed into Avila’s home. Court documents reveal that he claimed to investigators he was using the system while making a DoorDash delivery. However, Tesla has disputed this assertion, emphasizing that the vehicle would not operate in Full Self-Driving mode at the speed described.
Avila was inside her residence when the Tesla collided with the building. She sustained severe injuries and was airlifted to a hospital where she was later declared dead. Investigators report that Butler’s vehicle reached speeds of 73 mph—over twice the posted limit—without any application of the brakes in the moments leading up to the crash.
Following the incident, Butler was arrested and charged; he reportedly told authorities that adjusting the music on his touchscreen had caused him to “pass out”. Subsequent ring doorbell footage corroborated the high-speed nature of the crash. Butler denied consuming alcohol or drugs prior to the event.
In response to this tragic event, Avila’s family has filed a lawsuit against Tesla, alleging the company exhibited gross negligence and failed to adequately inform customers about potential defects in its self-driving technology. Butler’s bail has been set at £150,000, and he is now required to wear an ankle monitor and refrain from driving. Legal proceedings are expected to continue as both the criminal and civil cases unfold.
