Ward County, TX — January 31, 2026, Craig Brown was killed in a motorcycle accident at about 1:30 a.m. on Loop Road/State Highway 464 near Monahans.

Authorities said a southbound Dodge Charger was making a U-turn near Thrasher Lane when it collided with a Honda 883 motorcycle.

Motorcyclist Craig Allan Brown, 40, was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital, according to authorities.

The Dodge driver was not injured in the crash, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Ward County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After a serious crash, early statements often leave more questions than answers. What matters most is whether anyone slowed down long enough to look past the obvious and ask what really happened in the moments before impact.

Did investigators take a deep look at how this crash unfolded? When a crash involves a turning vehicle and a motorcycle, the details matter. A thorough investigation means more than noting where the vehicles came to rest. It means mapping the scene, tracking vehicle paths and studying how long the vehicles were in motion before contact. It also means examining what each driver was doing well before the crash, not just at the point of impact. Some officers have advanced training in crash reconstruction, while others may not. That difference can shape what gets documented and what gets missed.

Has anyone ruled out a vehicle defect? When a vehicle makes a sudden turn, it is fair to ask whether it responded the way the driver expected. Problems with steering, brakes or throttle systems do not always leave clear marks at the scene. A motorcycle should also be checked for any mechanical issue that could have limited braking or stability. Without full inspections, mechanical questions often go unanswered, even though they can explain why a driver or rider could not avoid a collision.

Was electronic data collected and reviewed? Modern vehicles store valuable information. Speed, braking, steering input and throttle use can all be recorded. Phones can show whether a driver was distracted, and nearby cameras can confirm timing and movement. This data can either support what people say happened or reveal something different. If it is not gathered quickly, it can be lost for good.

Crashes like this deserve more than a surface-level review. Careful questions, asked early, are often the only way to understand whether this was truly unavoidable or the result of something that could have been detected and addressed.

Key takeaways:

• A full crash investigation looks beyond where vehicles ended up.
• Mechanical problems are not always visible without inspection.
• Electronic data can confirm actions taken just before a crash.