Tesla
Did Tesla's driving system fail? Fatal Texas crash triggers federal probe
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a formal investigation into a June 19 crash in Texas in which a Tesla veered off the road and slammed into a house, killing a woman, media reports said.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the driver, identified as Michael Butler, was travelling eastbound in a Tesla Model 3 in the 21300 block of Rose Hollow Lane when the incident occurred.
Yes, this makes no sense. FSD drives slowly through neighborhood streets and this was a high speed crash!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 22, 2026
"Butler stated he was operating with an automated driving assistance system engaged at the time of the crash," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
Investigators said Butler failed to maintain his lane, left the roadway and crashed into a residence on Blooming Park Lane.
The vehicle entered the brick home at a high rate of speed and struck M. Avila, who was inside the house at the time of the collision.
The victim was airlifted to a local hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
Authorities said there were no signs of intoxication on the part of the driver, who cooperated fully with investigators.
Reacting to reports of the crash, Tesla CEO Elon Musk questioned claims that the vehicle's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system was responsible.
"Yes, this makes no sense. FSD drives slowly through neighborhood streets and this was a high-speed crash!" Musk wrote on X.
Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems have faced scrutiny from regulators and safety advocates in recent years, with multiple investigations examining crashes involving the company's driver-assistance technology, NBC News reported.
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