NTSB: Tesla driver hit accelerator fully before fatal house crash

Data recovered from the vehicle shows it was traveling at speeds exceeding 70 mph when it struck the house on Rose Hollow Lane, a residential street with a 30 mph limit. Security footage captured the car accelerating through an intersection before veering off the road. The NTSB investigation confirms Tesla’s earlier assertions that its driver assistance system was not at fault, despite the driver’s claim that he had passed out.

Michael Butler, the driver, faces manslaughter charges and a civil lawsuit filed by the victim’s family. Local reports indicate police discovered suspicious Google search queries on Butler’s devices, including phrases expressing frustration that the Tesla system was not aggressive enough. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues its probe, the NTSB's preliminary findings highlight the critical requirement that drivers remain fully attentive and prepared to take control while using the supervised automation software.