Tesla driver charged with manslaughter after crash kills Texas woman

A 44‑year‑old Texas resident, Michael Butler, has been charged with manslaughter after his Tesla Model 3 struck and killed a woman inside her home last month. Butler was arrested on Wednesday and, according to an arrest affidavit, claimed that the vehicle was operating under Tesla’s Full‑Self Driving (FSD) system at the time of the fatal collision. The case was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and local outlet KHOU 11, and the latest court filings confirm the charges.

Court documents reveal that a police officer extracted data from Butler’s phone, uncovering a series of FSD‑related Google searches from May 2026, including queries such as “Tesla FSD not aggressive enough 2026 model.” The searches suggest Butler was actively researching the capabilities and limitations of Tesla’s autonomous driving features. The evidence is being used to assess whether the driver’s reliance on FSD contributed to the accident.

The investigation continues as prosecutors examine the extent to which Tesla’s autonomous system and the driver’s actions led to the fatal incident. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of self‑driving technology and its role in traffic safety.