Federal regulator says driver overrode Tesla system before fatal Katy crash

A federal safety regulator says the driver involved in last month’s deadly Tesla crash in Katy, Texas, overrode the company’s Full Self-Driving system before the crash. In preliminary findings released by the National Transportation Safety Board, recovered electronic data indicated that Michael Butler overrode Tesla’s self-driving features and pressed the accelerator pedal to 100%. The report says the vehicle was traveling at more than 70 mph when it crashed, with clear weather, a dry roadway and daylight at the time. Investigators said the cause remains under review as the NTSB works toward probable cause and potential safety recommendations. The crash has intensified scrutiny on Tesla’s driver-assistance technology, following prior probes, including an NHTSA investigation tied to low-visibility performance and a late-June settlement related to a fatal 2023 crash in Arizona. Separately, Butler was booked into the Harris County Jail on manslaughter charges.