Driver charged with manslaughter after Tesla crashes into Texas home, kills grandmother
KATY, Texas — A 44‑year‑old Texas man has been charged with manslaughter after authorities said his Tesla Model 3 barreled into a Katy home on June 19, killing a 76‑year‑old grandmother who was inside the residence.
Michael David Butler was arrested Thursday and booked into the Harris County Jail on a single count of manslaughter, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. A judge set his bail at $150,000 and ordered him to wear an ankle monitor and refrain from driving while the case proceeds.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. when the Tesla left the roadway, struck a utility pole and then crashed through the side of a house on the 1600 block of a residential street, investigators said. Video captured by a neighbor’s Ring doorbell shows the vehicle hitting the home at a high rate of speed.
Butler told investigators he was making a DoorDash delivery and was adjusting the music on the car’s touchscreen when he “passed out,” the arrest affidavit states. He told paramedics after the crash that the vehicle was operating on Autopilot at the time, the document says. Authorities allege the car reached 73 mph—more than double the posted speed limit— and that the brake pedal was not applied during the minutes leading up to the impact. Butler denied feeling ill, consuming alcohol or using drugs before the crash, according to the filing.
Tesla, however, has disputed Butler’s account. In a statement, CEO Elon Musk said a vehicle engaged in Full Self‑Driving mode would “travel slowly through residential streets.” Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s head of artificial intelligence, offered a more detailed rebuttal, saying data from the car showed the accelerator was manually pressed to 100 percent in the residential area, effectively overriding any automated controls.
The crash killed Martha Avila, a retired schoolteacher who lived alone in the house. She was airlifted by Life Flight to a Houston hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later. Family members described Avila as a beloved member of the community who enjoyed gardening and spending time with her grandchildren.
The Harris County District Attorney’s office said the manslaughter charge reflects the belief that Butler’s actions, as outlined in the affidavit, amounted to criminal negligence. Prosecutors noted the high speed, failure to brake and the driver’s reported loss of consciousness as key factors in the decision to pursue the charge.
In the aftermath of the crash, Avila’s family filed a civil lawsuit against Tesla, alleging gross negligence and claiming the company failed to warn consumers that its self‑driving systems were defective. The suit, submitted last week in Harris County, seeks compensatory and punitive damages, arguing that Tesla’s marketing of its Autopilot and Full Self‑Driving features created a false sense of security.
Tesla has declined to comment on the pending litigation, saying only that it will continue to cooperate with investigators. The company’s legal team has previously maintained that its driver‑assistance systems are designed to augment human oversight and that drivers must remain attentive and ready to intervene at all times.
The case is now headed to a probable‑cause hearing, where a magistrate will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to bind Butler over for trial. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison under Texas law for manslaughter.
Investigators are also reviewing the vehicle’s onboard data and the doorbell footage to reconstruct the moments before impact. The Texas Department of Transportation will examine the roadway conditions and any potential signage issues that may have contributed to the crash.
Community leaders in Katy expressed shock and grief over the loss of Avila, urging greater scrutiny of advanced driver‑assist technologies. “We need to ensure that the promises of new technology do not come at the cost of public safety,” said a local city council member, adding that the council plans to hold a public forum on autonomous‑vehicle regulations in the coming weeks.
Butler’s attorney has indicated his client will plead not guilty, arguing that the evidence does not conclusively prove criminal intent. The defense team is expected to request a thorough review of the car’s software logs and to challenge the interpretation of the accelerator‑pedal data.
As the legal process unfolds, Avila’s family said they hope the case will spark stronger oversight of autonomous‑driving features. “Our mother’s death should not be in vain,” they said in a statement. “We want to see real accountability and safer roads for everyone.”