{"id":4995,"date":"2026-07-03T16:48:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T16:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/03\/man-charged-with-manslaughter-over-tesla-crash-originally-blamed-on-cars-self-driving-mode\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T16:48:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T16:48:52","slug":"man-charged-with-manslaughter-over-tesla-crash-originally-blamed-on-cars-self-driving-mode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=4995","title":{"rendered":"Man charged with manslaughter over Tesla crash originally blamed on car\u2019s self-driving mode"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"738b971f-2c38-4f47-a3db-8133f4df83df\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A home with a gaping hole and an emergency worker nearby.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/1057b3b3401dddbf20b9854cd05f7a0ea06db54b\/0_303_1080_864\/master\/1080.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Martha Avila, 76, was killed when Michael Butler\u2019s Tesla Model 3 crashed into her home (pictured).<\/span> Photograph: Terry Allbritton, Harris County Constable Precinct 5<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"738b971f-2c38-4f47-a3db-8133f4df83df\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Martha Avila, 76, was killed when Michael Butler\u2019s Tesla Model 3 crashed into her home (pictured).<\/span> Photograph: Terry Allbritton, Harris County Constable Precinct 5<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Man charged with manslaughter over Tesla crash originally blamed on car\u2019s self-driving mode<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Tesla said Michael Butler disabled his car\u2019s self-driving mode before it plowed into Martha Avila\u2019s home in June<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A man whose Tesla Model 3 was allegedly in self-driving mode when it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/22\/tesla-drivers-crash-swimming-pool-home\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">crashed<\/a> into a home near <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/houston\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Houston<\/a> and killed a 76-year-old woman inside recently has been jailed on a count of manslaughter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Michael Butler\u2019s arrest in the 19 June death of Martha Avila was announced late on Wednesday in a Facebook post by the sheriff of Harris county, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/texas\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Texas<\/a>, Ed Gonzalez.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Butler, 44, remained in the custody of Gonzalez\u2019s office as of Friday morning in lieu of $150,000 bail, jail records showed. He had a court hearing tentatively scheduled for 6 July.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">His arrest came amid a case that has drawn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2026\/jun\/24\/texas-tesla-car-crash-investigation\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">federal investigators\u2019 scrutiny<\/a> as well as a wrongful death lawsuit from Avila\u2019s family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Butler was traveling in his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/tesla\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Tesla<\/a> at about 8pm local time in the Houston suburb of Katy when the car allegedly plowed through the front wall of Avila\u2019s home, fatally pinning her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Investigators said Butler, who was injured in the wreck, showed no signs of intoxication and was cooperating with investigators. He allegedly told sheriff\u2019s deputies that he was using self-driving technology with which the car was equipped, but it has not been clear what \u2013 if any \u2013 role it played in the deadly crash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Prior to Butler\u2019s arrest on suspicion of manslaughter, Tesla\u2019s vice-president of artificial intelligence software, Ashok Elluswamy, posted on X that the driver involved in Avila\u2019s death \u201cmanually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100% of the accel pedal in [the] residential area\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Tesla\u2019s CEO, trillionaire Elon Musk, similarly had posted on X \u2013 which he also owns \u2013 that \u201cthis was a high speed crash!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Texas law defines manslaughter as recklessly causing the death of an individual. It is treated as a second-degree felony in many cases and can carry a penalty of between two and 10 years in prison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Lawyers for Avila\u2019s family have previously said they filed a civil complaint on 23 June contending that Tesla \u2013 Musk\u2019s electric vehicle manufacturer \u2013 should be held liable for her death. They also named Butler as a defendant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The lawsuit alleged gross negligence in Avila\u2019s death, along with a failure to warn that the Tesla Model 3\u2019s \u201cautopilot\u201d and \u201cfull self-driving systems\u201d were defective.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">One day after the filing of the wrongful death lawsuit by Avila\u2019s family, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was launching an investigation into the crash. That was two days after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was investigating the crash too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Those inquiries joined a steadily growing number of investigations aimed at Tesla.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Since 2016, as Reuters has reported, the NHTSA has opened nearly 50 special investigations into Tesla crashes believed to involve advanced driver-assistance systems. About two dozen deaths from those crashes were reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">And the NHTSA in March escalated its investigation into 3.2m Teslas equipped with full \u2060self-driving technology over concerns that the system may fail to detect or warn drivers in poor visibility.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Tesla \u200bin 2023 recalled about 2m cars, nearly \u200ball of its electric vehicles on US roads, \u200bto better ensure that drivers pay attention when using the autopilot feature. Tesla has said the technology enables vehicles to steer, \u200baccelerate and brake within the \u200clanes they are traveling. And full self-driving \u200blets vehicles obey traffic signals as well as change lanes, the manufacturer has said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Both technologies still require \u201cfully attentive\u201d drivers whose hands are on the cars\u2019 steering wheels, Tesla has added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In early 2025, Tesla car sales plunged and its stock fell as a result of a boycott against Musk in the wake of his wading into US federal politics. He temporarily led the Trump administration\u2019s budget-cutting \u201cdepartment of government efficiency\u201d (Doge) initiative, and he also embraced extremist political candidates in Europe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">But strong figures <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2026\/jul\/02\/tesla-sales-second-quarter\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">reported<\/a> on Thursday suggested Tesla\u2019s auto business has been regaining momentum.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Reuters contributed reporting<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/texas\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Texas<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/technology\/tesla\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Tesla<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-crime\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US crime<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/houston\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Houston<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Man%20charged%20with%20manslaughter%20over%20Tesla%20crash%20originally%20blamed%20on%20car%E2%80%99s%20self-driving%20mode&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/03\/tesla-texas-crash-manslaughter?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fjul%2F03%2Ftesla-texas-crash-manslaughter&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/jul\/03\/tesla-texas-crash-manslaughter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-axwinp\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Martha Avila, 76, was killed when Michael Butler\u2019s Tesla Model 3 crashed into her home (pictured). Photograph: Terry<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4995"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4995\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}