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Driver charged with manslaughter after Tesla crashes into Katy-area home, killing 76-year-old woman
Click2Houston • • business
Key Points:
- Michael Butler, the driver involved in a fatal Tesla crash in Katy, Texas, has been charged with manslaughter following the death of 76-year-old Martha Avila.
- The crash occurred when Butler’s Tesla, reportedly traveling at high speed, failed to make a turn and crashed through a home, striking Avila inside.
- Investigators are examining whether Tesla’s Autopilot system contributed to the crash, with data showing Butler had overridden the system before the collision; no mechanical faults have been found in the vehicle.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a special investigation into the crash, continuing its broader review of Tesla’s driver assistance technologies.
- Avila’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Butler and Tesla, alleging defects in the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems and negligence, seeking over $1 million in damages.
