July 5, 2026 - A fatal crash in Texas involving a Tesla vehicle has led to a lawsuit filed shortly after the incident that claimed the life of Martha Avila.

The June 19 collision took place in the Katy area of Harris County when a Model 3 struck a residence and resulted in the death of the 76-year-old victim.

The complaint states that Avila was inside the front room of the home around 8 p.m. when the vehicle operated by 44-year-old Michael Butler broke through the wall.

According to the filing from the family, Butler had Autopilot active at the time and is also listed as a defendant in the case.

Although probes were still in early stages, the suit alleges that flaws in several vehicle systems and parts contributed to the deadly outcome, including claims of unintended acceleration issues.

Tesla Model 3 Crash - Official Reports

Records indicate Butler faced arrest and manslaughter charges connected to Avila's death.

Officials note that Butler was delivering for DoorDash and reportedly had Full Self-Driving mode on before losing consciousness.

Tesla maintains that Butler deactivated the assistance system prior to impact, with event data recorder details supporting that action.

Probes revealed Butler applied the accelerator, which turned off the driver aids, causing the car to speed up and veer right.

Information shows full accelerator input six seconds prior to the wreck, with the Tesla reaching 73 mph after hitting a curb and launching into the structure. No brake use was recorded.

Local authorities found no signs of mechanical faults in the car, though Butler had searched online for terms related to Tesla FSD performance issues in 2026.

The case appears in Harris County District Court under the name Justin Barbour and Jennifer Barbour versus Tesla Inc. and Michael Butler.

The plaintiffs are represented by Zehl and Associates P.C.