NTSB confirms Tesla driver in fatal Texas crash pressed the accelerator pedal 100%

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) He said On Wednesday, the driver of a Tesla that crashed into a house in June pressed the accelerator at 100%, bypassing the company’s full (supervised) self-driving program.

Data recovered from the Tesla showed the vehicle was traveling at more than 70 mph when it crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila, according to the NTSB. The victim’s family has since filed a lawsuit against the alleged driver, 44-year-old Michael Butler, and Tesla, alleging negligence. Butler was too Charged By manslaughter.

The Safety Board shared the information as part of a preliminary report on the progress of its investigation into the accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also investigating the accident.

The data confirms Tesla’s account of the accident, which was announced by the company It was shared in the days after it happened In order to show that its advanced driver assistance system is not to blame. “This (claim) makes no sense. FSD is driving slowly through the neighborhood streets and this was a high speed crash!” Tesla CEO Elon Musk books On X shortly after the accident.

The 44-year-old driver was using full self-driving (supervised) on Rose Hollow Lane, a two-lane residential road with a 30 mph speed limit, before the crash occurred, the NTSB said Wednesday. Security camera footage obtained by the Safety Board showed the car accelerating through an intersection, leaving the road, and crashing into the house. “The weather was clear, the road was dry, and daylight conditions were present,” according to the NTSB.

Tesla requires drivers using Full Self-Driving (supervised) to pay attention to the road and be ready to take control at a moment’s notice. Butler allegedly told authorities that he “passed out” and was using the Tesla’s driver assistance system. Police reportedly discovered that his Google searches included the terms “Tesla FSD not aggressive enough 2026,” “Tesla not aggressive enough,” and “Tesla FSD too shy,” the report said. Local ABC news affiliate KTRK TV.