A Texas man faces manslaughter charges following a June crash where his Tesla collided with a home, killing a resident. Michael David Butler, 44, told investigators his 2025 Tesla Model 3 was using its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature at the time of the incident. The vehicle struck a suburban Houston home, resulting in the death of 76-year-old Martha Avila.

Court documents detail the tragic event, with Avila succumbing to her injuries at a local hospital. Tesla executives, however, have publicly contested Butler's account. They stated on social media that the driver intentionally pressed and maintained pressure on the accelerator pedal, even after the collision occurred.

Butler remains in custody at the Harris County jail. This incident raises further questions about the capabilities and proper usage of advanced driver-assistance systems, particularly concerning their interaction with human drivers and their potential role in fatal accidents. The legal and regulatory scrutiny surrounding such technologies is likely to intensify following this event.

Butler's attorney could not be reached for comment regarding the charges. The investigation into the precise cause of the crash and the role of the vehicle's systems is ongoing, with Tesla's statement directly contradicting the driver's claims.