Bowie County, TX — July 24, 2025, One person was killed and one was injured following a car accident that occurred around 1:35 P.M. on Myrtle Springs Rd.

According to reports, a Monte Carlo operated by Jessie Strickland with a 10-year-old male passenger was traveling eastbound on Myrtle Springs Road, when it lost control as it was approaching a curve and left the roadway before striking a tree.

First responders arrived and found the minor passenger fatally injured and pronounced him deceased, while Strickland was taken to the hospital in critical condition. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, and officials have not released an update on the investigation's status.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a single-vehicle crash claims a life—especially a young one—people often assume the explanation is simple: a curve taken too fast, a moment of distraction, or just bad luck. But behind every outcome, there's a duty to ask harder questions. Because real answers don’t always sit on the surface.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Losing control near a curve might sound straightforward, but that assumption risks ignoring the details that truly matter. Did crash investigators reconstruct the scene with precision tools? Did they review the driver’s actions leading up to the crash—like whether the vehicle drifted before the curve or showed signs of overcorrection? In many cases, especially with solo crashes, the depth of the investigation hinges on the training of the officers involved. If no one looked beyond the immediate damage, then key insights may already be lost.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
With no other vehicles involved, it’s even more important to consider whether something within the Monte Carlo itself failed. Could a steering issue or brake malfunction have prevented the driver from controlling the car as it approached the bend? Older vehicles, in particular, can suffer from unseen wear or faulty components. A crash like this demands a full mechanical inspection—not just to check a box, but to find out whether a defect contributed to the loss of control.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Even older cars often carry basic event recorders that might shed light on what happened. Did the driver brake? How fast was the vehicle going? Did the car detect a sudden steering input? If available, this data could help reconstruct the last moments before the crash. Without it, there’s a gap that speculation alone can’t fill.

When something goes terribly wrong on a quiet stretch of road, the first explanation isn’t always the right one. Asking deeper questions doesn’t change what happened—but it might make sure the truth isn’t buried with it.

Key Takeaways:

• Even solo crashes deserve thorough, skilled investigation work.
• Mechanical failure is a real possibility and needs to be ruled out with care.
• Vehicle data may hold crucial answers—if it’s recovered in time.