Tesla driver who blamed crash on autopilot pressed accelerator 100%, NTSB finds

Key Points:

• The NTSB preliminary report confirms that the driver, Michael Butler, manually overrode Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) system by pressing the accelerator pedal to 100% just before a fatal crash in Texas, contradicting Butler's initial claim that autopilot was engaged throughout.
• Butler, a DoorDash driver, reportedly lost consciousness before the crash, and phone data showed prior successful use of Tesla's autopilot, but also searches expressing frustration with FSD's cautious driving behavior.
• The Tesla exceeded 70 mph and failed to turn as expected in the seconds before crashing into a home, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila; security footage confirmed the vehicle continued straight through an intersection before impact.
• Butler has been charged with manslaughter and is facing a $150,000 bond, while Avila's family has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by both Butler and Tesla, citing possible vehicle defects such as Sudden Unintended Acceleration.
• The NTSB and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continue to investigate the crash to determine probable cause and consider safety recommendations, with no mechanical malfunctions confirmed to date.