AI Generated Image
Tesla driver charged with manslaughter in Katy crash was Googling 'FSD too timid'
Electrek • • business
Key Points:
- Harris County prosecutors charged Michael David Butler with manslaughter after he overrode Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system to accelerate to 73 mph in a residential cul-de-sac, causing a fatal crash that killed 76-year-old Martha Avila.
- Evidence from the car's telemetry, dashcam, and Butler’s phone shows he intentionally pressed the accelerator to override FSD, with Google searches indicating frustration over FSD’s perceived lack of aggressiveness in city driving.
- Investigators found no mechanical issues or medical conditions affecting Butler, and the brake was never applied in the final minute before the crash, suggesting deliberate acceleration.
- While FSD is often criticized for being overly cautious, it can also drive aggressively in certain modes, creating inconsistency that may lead drivers to override the system’s speed controls.
- The manslaughter charge against Butler does not absolve Tesla of responsibility, as civil lawsuits argue the company’s marketing and driver monitoring foster false confidence in FSD, contributing to such accidents.
