Jasper County, TX — April 18, 2025, two were killed and one was injured as the result of a car accident at around 8:15 p.m. along U.S. Highway 96.

According to initial details about the accident, it happened in the area of County Road 791 near Evadale.

Investigators said that a Hyundai Elantra was going northbound along the highway while a Kia Sportage was going southbound on the highway. Authorities say that the Hyundai somehow lost control and went across the median where it crashed with the Kia.

Due to the collision, the driver of the Hyundai and a child riding in the Kia were killed. The Kia driver was seriously injured. Right now, additional details about the crash remain under investigation.

Commentary

With a serious crash like this, it can be challenging to get the facts straight and make sure those affected by the crash are going to get the answers they deserve. As much as people rely on the authorities to get answers, they sometimes aren't able to clear up a family's doubts or concerns. That's why I've found across a more than 30 year career that certain key questions can help families make informed steps forward.

One of the first questions families should consider is whether investigators had the time, tools, and training necessary to conduct a complete investigation. Crashes like this, involving a vehicle crossing over into oncoming traffic, are complex and require a detailed reconstruction to understand exactly how and why it happened. But not every department has the specialized resources for that level of analysis. If the scene isn’t thoroughly documented—capturing things like vehicle positions, debris fields, or tire marks—critical context could already be missing.

Another important area to explore is whether a vehicle defect played a role in the crash. A sudden mechanical failure, like a steering issue, brake malfunction, or tire separation, could explain why a vehicle left its lane so suddenly. Additionally, if safety systems in either vehicle—such as airbags or seatbelts—didn’t function properly, that could have worsened the outcome. These kinds of defects require a detailed inspection, and if the vehicles were removed or salvaged before that happened, any evidence may already be lost.

Finally, it’s crucial to ask whether crash-related electronic data was collected and preserved. Many modern vehicles record key data, including speed, braking, and steering inputs in the moments before a collision. That information, along with phone records or any nearby camera footage, can help clarify the sequence of events. But this data is time-sensitive, and once it’s lost, it can’t be recovered.

These questions asked early on can help families gauge if authorities are getting clear answers. If they are, then that can reassure a family that they're going to get the whole story. But if they feel answers aren't adding up, steps can be taken to have more experienced and thorough investigators pick up the slack. I see no reason why this crash would be an exception to that.