The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported on Wednesday, July 16, 2026, that a Tesla driver overrode the vehicle’s driver assistance system in a fatal crash in Katy, Texas. According to preliminary findings, a 44-year-old driver operating a 2025 Tesla Model 3 left the road, entered a driveway, and collided with a residence.

At the time of the crash, the vehicle was engaged in Tesla’s "Full Self Driving" (FSD) mode. However, data from the car indicated the driver pressed the accelerator pedal to 100 percent, overriding the FSD system prior to the collision. The NTSB also noted the vehicle was traveling at speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour during the crash.

The crash resulted in the death of Martha Avila, 76, who was inside the residence, while the driver sustained minor injuries. Police and the driver had previously indicated that Tesla’s automated driving assistance system was active during the accident, as cited in a lawsuit filed by Avila’s daughter.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk had pushed back last month against claims that the company’s full self-driving software was responsible for the crash. Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s vice president of AI software, stated that the driver "manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator all the way to 100% of the accel pedal in this residential area."

Sources