NTSB says Tesla driver pressed accelerator 100% before fatal Texas crash

The National Transportation Safety Board said the Tesla driver in a fatal June crash pressed the accelerator pedal to 100%, overriding Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software. TechCrunch reports that the finding came in a preliminary update on the agency’s investigation. The detail supports Tesla’s earlier account that its driver-assistance system was not the cause of the high-speed crash.

According to the NTSB data cited by TechCrunch, the Tesla was traveling more than 70 mph when it struck a house in Katy, Texas. The crash killed 76-year-old resident Martha Avila. TechCrunch also reports that Avila’s family has sued the alleged driver, 44-year-old Michael Butler, and Tesla, claiming negligence, and that Butler has been charged with manslaughter.

The NTSB said the driver was using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) on Rose Hollow Lane, described as a residential two-lane road with a 30 mph speed limit. Security camera footage obtained by the safety board showed the car accelerating through an intersection, leaving the road, and hitting the house. The NTSB also noted that weather was clear, the roadway was dry, and daylight conditions were present.

The NTSB’s preliminary findings sharpen the focus on driver supervision and intervention while using advanced driver-assistance features. Tesla requires drivers using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to pay attention and be ready to take control at any time. TechCrunch reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also probing the incident, so the regulatory picture is still developing.