Clayton, OK — April 4, 2025, One man was killed following a car accident that occurred at around 11:00 P.M. on State Highway 2.

An investigation is underway following  a car accident that left one person dead during the evening hours of April 4th According to official reports, John Webster was traveling on State Highway 2 in the southbound lanes, when for unknown reasons the vehicle lost control and left the roadway and crashed.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that Webster had sustained critical injuries and he was transported to the hospital where he later succumbed to his wounds. At this time there has been no further information released about the accident, including what caused the vehicle to lose control, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When someone like John Webster loses their life in a single-vehicle crash, the default assumption tends to be that something the driver did caused the accident. But having worked on many cases just like this, I can say with confidence that assumptions can easily obscure the truth. To find out what really happened on State Highway 2 that evening, investigators must focus on three critical questions that guide every serious crash investigation.

First, did the authorities conduct a thorough investigation into the crash? When a vehicle leaves the roadway for “unknown reasons,” that phrase should prompt a deeper dive into what the conditions were like at the time. Was the road surface slick? Was visibility limited? Were there any obstructions or sudden changes in traffic flow? Proper investigation involves documenting all of this—along with vehicle positioning, skid marks, and the rest position of the vehicle. A complete reconstruction helps determine whether the vehicle left the roadway due to driver input or because of something entirely out of the driver’s control. But these steps take time and resources that not all responding agencies are able to invest, especially in rural or less-trafficked areas.

Second, has anyone considered the possibility that a vehicle defect played a role in the crash? In single-vehicle incidents, especially those involving a sudden loss of control, mechanical or electronic failure must be considered. A steering issue, braking system malfunction, or even a defect in the vehicle’s stability or traction control systems can all contribute to or directly cause a crash. Unfortunately, unless the vehicle is preserved for forensic examination, it's nearly impossible to determine whether such a defect occurred. If the vehicle is quickly released or scrapped, the window to uncover these issues closes permanently.

Third, has all of the electronic data from the vehicle been collected? The engine control module (ECM), or “black box,” in John Webster’s vehicle may contain critical data from the seconds leading up to the crash—speed, braking input, throttle position, and steering angle among them. This data can help identify whether the vehicle was responding normally or behaving unpredictably. In addition, any available dashcam footage or surveillance cameras near the crash site could offer independent verification of what occurred. This kind of digital evidence is highly time-sensitive; if not secured early, it may be lost or overwritten.

At the end of the day, a life was lost, and the question isn’t just how—but why. The investigation must go beyond surface-level observations to uncover every contributing factor. Only by answering these three foundational questions can we begin to provide the clarity and closure that John Webster’s loved ones deserve.