Houston Woman Sues Tesla for $1 Million After Cybertruck Incident

Lawsuit alleges Tesla's self-driving technology failed to prevent near-disaster on Houston overpass.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 10:50am

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A Houston woman is suing Tesla for $1 million after her Cybertruck, operating in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode, nearly drove off an overpass in August 2025. The plaintiff, Justine Saint Amour, claims she attempted to disengage FSD but it was too late to prevent the vehicle from nearly crashing over the edge of the overpass, putting her and her one-year-old child's lives in danger.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the capabilities and safety of Tesla's self-driving technology, which the company markets as 'Full Self-Driving' despite disclaimers that it is still a driver-assist feature requiring human supervision. It raises questions about liability when autonomous systems fail to prevent dangerous situations.

The details

According to court records, Saint Amour's Cybertruck was driving along Houston's 69 Eastex Freeway in FSD mode when it failed to properly navigate a right-hand turn at a Y-shaped overpass. Footage shows the vehicle heading straight for the overpass barrier before striking a lighting pole and ricocheting back. Saint Amour's attorney, Bob Hilliard, said his client had no time to react and that Tesla's marketing of its self-driving tech 'overpromises what it actually delivers'.

  • The incident occurred in August 2025.
  • Saint Amour filed the $1 million lawsuit against Tesla last month.

The players

Justine Saint Amour

A Houston resident who is suing Tesla after her Cybertruck nearly drove off an overpass while in Full Self-Driving mode.

Bob Hilliard

The plaintiff's attorney, who claims Tesla's marketing of its self-driving technology 'overpromises what it actually delivers'.

Tesla

The automaker being sued for $1 million over the Cybertruck incident, which the plaintiff alleges was caused by the failure of Tesla's self-driving technology.

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What they’re saying

“At the last second she looked at the screen and saw that the Tesla truck was not going to go left and it was not going to go right, it was going to go straight over the overpass.”

— Bob Hilliard, Plaintiff's Attorney (KHOU)

“Even a very alert driver who allows the truck to drive itself, as it says it can, can't go from passenger to emergency-driver reaction in a blink of an eye, and that's what Tesla expects.”

— Bob Hilliard, Plaintiff's Attorney (KHOU)

“It is a driver-assist Tesla, basically cruise control on steroids. But the marketing tells the driver that it's fully self-driving.”

— Bob Hilliard, Plaintiff's Attorney (KHOU)

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow the $1 million lawsuit to proceed against Tesla.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges and risks associated with self-driving technology, even as companies like Tesla continue to market it as a fully autonomous feature. It underscores the need for clearer disclaimers and more robust safety measures to protect drivers and the public.