NTSB Data Confirms Driver Control in Fatal Texas Tesla Incident

Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicate that a fatal crash in Katy, Texas, in June was caused by driver input rather than a malfunction of the vehicle’s automated driving systems. The investigation centers on a 2025 Tesla, Inc. Model 3 that struck a residence, resulting in the death of 76-year-old Martha Avila.

According to the NTSB report, data retrieved from the vehicle shows the 44-year-old driver had engaged the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) mode on a residential street with a posted speed limit of 30 mph. However, the system was manually overridden when the accelerator pedal was pressed to 100%. The vehicle was traveling over 70 mph at the time of the collision. The agency noted that weather conditions were clear, the road was dry, and visibility was unobstructed.

While the driver initially claimed to have lost consciousness, video evidence and forensic data contradict this account. Security footage reviewed by investigators showed the car accelerating through an intersection before leaving the roadway. Additionally, a search of the driver’s phone revealed queries regarding the software’s behavior, including terms such as “Tesla FSD not aggressive enough.” The driver has been charged with manslaughter, and a lawsuit alleging negligence has been filed by the victim’s family against both the driver and Tesla.

The federal agency’s conclusions match public statements made by Tesla’s Vice President of AI Software, Ashok Elluswamy, who previously asserted that the logs showed the accelerator was fully depressed and remained so even after the impact. Tesla, Inc. stock was trading lower at the time of this report, reflecting broader market trends.

What to watch

• Formal NTSB final report and safety recommendations.
• Court proceedings regarding the manslaughter charge and civil lawsuit.
• Regulatory scrutiny surrounding Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engagement data.

Source: original release