Family files wrongful death lawsuit after Tesla crash in Texas
The family of 76-year-old Martha Avila is suing Tesla and the driver of a Model 3 that crashed into her home, allegedly while using an automated driving system.
A lawsuit has been filed in Harris County District Court by Jennifer and Justin Barbour, the daughter and son-in-law of the late Martha Avila. The suit alleges negligence and design defects against Tesla and the driver, Michael Butler, 44. The crash occurred on June 19 at 8 p.m. when Butler's Tesla Model 3 struck Avila's home in Katy, Texas. Avila was standing in her front room and later died after being airlifted to a hospital. Justin Barbour, who was also inside, sustained multiple injuries.
Authorities reported that Butler was using an automated driving assistance system prior to the crash. However, Tesla contends that Butler manually took over control, fully depressing the accelerator and reaching a speed of 73 mph (117 km/h) in a residential area. Elon Musk stated on social media that the high-speed nature of the crash contradicts the use of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which is designed for slower speeds. Tesla's head of AI, Ashok Elluswamy, added that the driver pressed the accelerator to 100% and maintained pressure even after impact.
The family claims the vehicle failed to detect the end of the street and the house, and that the system had a known history of danger. They are seeking more than $1 million in damages. No criminal charges have been filed, and the crash remains under investigation by local authorities and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is also examining Tesla's reporting of crashes involving its driver assistance systems.
