Houston, TX — December 14, 2024, One child was injured following a car accident that occurred at around 12:30 P.M. on Barker Oaks Dr.

An investigation is underway into car accident that left a 10-year-old seriously injured during the afternoon hours of December 14th. According to official reports, a Porsche Cayenne lost control for unknown reasons and drove through five businesses, one of which was 32 Degree Barber Shop off Westheimer Rd. where the minor was struck.

Though the child was seriously injured, he is reportedly expected to make a full recovery from his injuries, while the driver of the Porsche was also taken to the hospital, their condition remains unknown. So far there has been no statement from authorities as to the cause of the accident, however that may change as the investigation continues.

Commentary

Reading about this crash, the obvious question that comes to mind is "Why did this vehicle leave the roadway?" It may sound simple, but doing what I do for a living, I know that these investigations can be more complex than most people would assume. What questions should be answered by an investigation into a crash like this?

Did authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? It may seem like a no-brainer that authorities would take the time to be thorough in their investigation, but time and time again I've seen critical aspects get overlooked. If an investigation is truly thorough, it should entail:

• Accident Reconstruction: Reviewing factors such as braking, speed, point of impact, and more can be vital.
• Witness Statements: Finding and interviewing anyone who may have witnessed the accident can help piece together an otherwise thorough investigation.
• Analysis: Were there any physical conditions that could have contributed to the accident, such as poor roads, shrubs or signs that obstructed view, or inclement weather conditions?

Understanding that things such as training, experience, and financial resources can vary greatly between departments is important, as it can shed light on potential gaps in an otherwise thorough investigation.

Could a vehicle defect contribute to the crash? When looking at an accident such as this, determining whether a vehicle defect could have played a role is very important.

• Braking, steering, or acceleration malfunctions that could have led to the crash.
• The effectiveness of safety features such as airbags, seatbelts, or advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) which could have contributed to the crash.
• Known recalls or defects related to either vehicle model that should have been addressed.

These are just a few examples out of many possible defects that can affect a vehicle, oftentimes it requires an equipped lab with trained professionals to comb over every vehicle system top to bottom in order to discover or rule out potential defects.

Was all the electronic data collected? Modern vehicles are equipped with something called Electronic Control Modules (ECM's) which can be thought of as a "black box" like what is equipped in airplanes. These ECM's record everything function and system of the vehicle, and can therefore show what was happens with a vehicle leading up to a crash. Such data could be:

• Speed, braking, and turning data.
• GPS data that might reveal the exact movements of the vehicles before the collision.
• Evasive maneuvers, airbag deployment, and blind spot monitoring.

Securing other vital pieces of evidence such as traffic and dash camera footage, can also help piece together a solid investigation. One thing can be overlooked, but is very pertinent to any investigation, is cell phone data. This data is able to provide an insight into what the driver may or may not have been doing in the moments leading up to the crash.

If things go as they should, investigators should be able to provide all of this information to those affected by the crash when their investigation wraps up. If they can't do so, it may be a sign that those involved didn't get the investigation they deserve.