Tesla denies self-driving caused fatal Texas crash, blames driver override
Tesla claims that a fatal crash in Texas involving its Full Self-Driving system occurred because the driver manually overrode the system by fully pressing the accelerator.
Tesla is pushing back against claims that its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system caused a fatal crash in Texas, where a speeding Model 3 struck a home, killing a 76-year-old woman inside. In a reply on X, Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy stated that the driver “manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100%.”
The crash occurred last Friday in a residential neighborhood in Katy, Texas. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News that the Model 3 driver was using the vehicle “with an automated driving assistance system.” However, Elluswamy wrote on X that the driver, identified as Michael Butler, “reached a speed of 73 mph during the crash, and had the accelerator pressed even after the crash.”
In January, Tesla discontinued its Autopilot driver-assist feature in favor of the subscription-based FSD. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating Tesla’s self-driving technology, focusing on whether the system properly alerts drivers when conditions prevent it from scanning the road. NHTSA has also opened an investigation into the Texas crash, according to The Washington Post.
Despite Tesla disbanding its public relations team years ago, Elluswamy expressed frustration with media coverage, saying it plants “FUD [fear, uncertainty, and doubt] in the minds of the general public.” Tesla CEO Elon Musk similarly brushed off any link to the company’s self-driving tech, stating, “FSD drives slowly through neighborhood streets and this was a high speed crash!”
