Tesla claims driver ‘manually overrode self-driving’ in deadly Texas crash
The Verge·June 23, 2026
Tesla is disputing claims that its Full Self-Driving system was responsible for a fatal crash in Texas, where a Model 3 sped into a home and killed a 76-year-old woman. According to Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy, the driver manually overrode the self-driving system by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100%. The crash occurred in a residential neighborhood in Katy, Texas, with the driver, identified as Michael Butler, using the vehicle's automated driving assistance system at the time. Tesla's statement suggests that human error, rather than a flaw in the self-driving system, may have contributed to the deadly accident.
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