Tesla is pushing back on claims that its Full Self-Driving system caused a fatal crash in Katy, Texas, where a speeding Model 3 plowed into a home and killed a 76-year-old woman inside. Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy posted on X that the driver “manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100%.”
The crash happened last Friday in a residential neighborhood. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News the driver, identified as Michael Butler, was using the vehicle with an automated driving assistance system engaged. But Elluswamy’s account contradicts that, claiming the driver floored the accelerator himself.
The dispute matters because FSD is under intense scrutiny. Multiple federal investigations and lawsuits have examined whether Tesla’s driver-assistance systems adequately monitor driver attention and prevent misuse. Tesla has repeatedly warned that FSD requires active driver supervision and that the driver is always responsible for the vehicle.
Investigators haven’t released a final determination on what caused the crash. Data from the vehicle’s black box will likely be key to resolving the conflicting accounts. The case highlights the gray zone between driver-assistance technology and human responsibility — and how hard it is to assign blame when both the system and the driver are in the loop.
