Texas family sues Tesla and driver over fatal crash as regulators probe
Conflicting accounts emerge between the Avila family’s legal claims and Tesla’s technical data regarding the operation of the vehicle’s automated systems at the time of impact.
The family of 76-year-old Martha Avila has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla and vehicle owner Michael Butler following a collision in Katy, Texas, on June 19. The suit, lodged in Harris County District Court by Avila’s daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Justin Barbour, alleges design defects in the manufacturer’s automated driving assistance system and negligence by Butler. The family is seeking more than $1 million in damages for the death of Avila and the multiple injuries sustained by Barbour, who was inside the home at the time.
Authorities stated the Tesla Model 3 struck Avila’s residence at approximately 8pm while she was standing in her front room. The vehicle was reportedly using an automated system when it failed to detect the end of the street and the oncoming house, according to the family’s legal filing. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office noted that Butler was cooperative and showed no signs of intoxication, though no criminal charges have been filed as the incident remains under investigation.
Tesla executives have publicly disputed the family’s claims, asserting that Butler manually overrode the system and accelerated to high speeds. Elon Musk commented on X, stating that Full Self-Driving (FSD) could not have been in use because the crash occurred at high speed, whereas the software is designed to drive slowly through neighbourhood streets. Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s Head of AI, supported this assertion, noting that the driver pressed the accelerator to 100%, reaching a speed of 73 mph during the crash and keeping the pedal pressed even after impact.
Despite Tesla’s position, reports indicate that Butler had previously told Harris County officials that his vehicle was on Autopilot at the time of the collision. The family’s lawsuit argues that the technology has a history of known danger and failed to warn Butler of the impending danger. The company has conceded that Butler was using its FSD system at some point but maintains that the driver was ultimately responsible for the crash after assuming manual control.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. This follows a pattern of regulatory scrutiny for the manufacturer, including a recent judge’s order for Tesla to pay $243 million for a deadly 2019 crash involving Autopilot and a separate probe into how the company reports crashes involving its driver assistance systems.
