safety
Tesla driver whose car slammed into Texas home overrode driver assistance mode, NTSB says
By Rebecca Cohen and Austin Mullen | NBC News at NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) - Top Stories
· July 17, 2026
· 4 min read
Weeks after a 76-year-old woman was killed when a Tesla, operating on Full Self-Driving, crashed into her Texas home, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the car’s driver overrode the driver assistance mode and accelerated into the building.
Michael Butler, 44, was operatin...
Key takeaway Michael Butler, 44, was operating the Tesla Model 3 that killed Martha Avila on June 19.
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Category: safety ·
Published: July 17, 2026 ·
Source: NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) - Top Stories ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Weeks after a 76-year-old woman was killed when a Tesla, operating on Full Self-Driving, crashed into her Texas home, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the car’s driver overrode the driver assistance mode and accelerated into the building.
Michael Butler, 44, was operatin...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 17, 2026 by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) - Top Stories and curated for Frisco News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Rebecca Cohen and Austin Mullen | NBC News at NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) - Top Stories. To learn more about how Frisco News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from Frisco News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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