Tesla claims driver ‘manually overrode self-driving’ in deadly Texas crash

Tesla is pushing back on claims that its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system caused a fatal Texas crash, where a speeding Model 3 barreled into a home, killing a 76-year-old woman inside. In a reply on X, Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy says the driver “manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100%.”

The crash occurred in a residential neighborhood in Katy, Texas, last Friday, with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office telling ABC News that the Model 3 driver was using the vehicle “with an automated driving assistance system.” However, Elluswamy writes on X that the driver, who has been 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. Tesla’s self-driving technology is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is looking into whether the system properly alerts drivers when poor conditions prevent it from adequately scanning the roads. 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 the media’s coverage of the crash and FSD, saying it plants “FUD [fear, uncertainty, and doubt] in the minds of the general public.” Tesla CEO Elon Musk similarly brushed off a link to the company’s self-driving tech, saying, “FSD drives slowly through neighborhood streets and this was a high speed crash!”