Michael Butler, a 44-year-old Texas resident, has been charged with manslaughter following a crash involving his Tesla Model 3 that resulted in the death of 76-year-old Martha Avila inside her own home. The incident occurred in Katy, Texas, when Butler's vehicle reportedly plowed through a residential neighborhood, ultimately crashing into Avila's home on June 19th, 2026.
Google Searches and Frustration
According to a police affidavit, a search of Butler's phone revealed multiple Google searches related to Tesla's Full-Self Driving (FSD) system. Searches included phrases like "Tesla fsd not aggressive enough 2026 model" and "tesla fsd too timid." These searches suggest Butler's frustration with the vehicle's autonomous capabilities.
Details of the Crash
Butler, who was reportedly using the FSD system at the time, told paramedics that the car was on 'autopilot.' He mentioned changing music and checking the navigation screen before the crash, while making deliveries for DoorDash. Despite these claims, Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy tweeted that Butler had manually overridden the self-driving system by pressing the accelerator to 100%.
Data extracted from the vehicle's
