Colorado County, TX — January 26, 2025, one person was killed in a car accident at about 12:10 a.m. on State Highway 71 near Columbus.

A preliminary accident report indicates a 2017 Nissan Titan has headed south toward Schobel Road when it hit a pedestrian.

The 44-year-old woman, whose name has not been made public, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities, while the pickup driver was not injured.

The driver is not facing any charges or citations related to the accident at this point, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash. The accident remains under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I see reports of a crash involving a pedestrian, I know many people’s first instinct is to assume they understand what happened. Some might think the pedestrian was in the wrong place at the wrong time, while others may question the driver’s actions. But experience has taught me that these crashes are often more complex than they appear. Before drawing any conclusions, three critical questions must be asked to ensure a complete and accurate investigation.

The first question is whether authorities conducted a thorough investigation. Pedestrian crashes require more than just a basic accident report: they demand a detailed analysis of visibility, road conditions, lighting and traffic patterns. Was the area well-lit, or was it difficult for drivers to see? Were there designated crosswalks nearby? Did investigators take measurements and document skid marks or vehicle damage to determine how fast the truck was going? Too often, pedestrian accidents are assumed to be unavoidable without taking a deeper look at these factors.

The second question is whether a vehicle defect played a role in the crash. While most people assume pedestrian crashes are caused by human error, mechanical failures — such as headlight malfunctions, brake issues or steering defects — can significantly impact a driver’s ability to react in time. The 2017 Nissan Titan involved in this crash is equipped with advanced safety features, but if those systems failed or weren’t functioning properly, it could have been a contributing factor. The only way to know for sure is to have the vehicle inspected before any potential evidence is lost.

The third question is whether all electronic data has been collected. Many modern vehicles, including the Nissan Titan, have engine control modules (black boxes) that capture critical details such as speed, braking activity and steering inputs leading up to the crash. If the vehicle’s headlights weren’t working properly, electronic logs may indicate that as well. Additionally, surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras, as well as cell phone data, could provide valuable context about what happened in the moments before impact. If investigators fail to secure this data quickly, key evidence could disappear.

At the end of the day, a crash like this deserves a full and thorough investigation, not just for those directly involved, but for the broader community as well. Understanding the exact circumstances behind pedestrian crashes is the only way to prevent similar incidents in the future. When a life is lost, the very least we owe is a complete and accurate explanation of what happened and why.