Gregg County, TX — October 22, 2025, a woman was injured due to a car accident just after 10:30 p.m. along West Cotton Street.

According to authorities, a 58-year-old woman was traveling in an eastbound Hyundai Elantra on Cotton Street at the Spur 63 intersection when the accident took place.

The intersection is apparently controlled by a traffic signal. Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the Elantra entered the intersection at an unsafe time, failing to heed the red light given by the traffic signal. A collision consequently occurred between the Elantra and a northbound Mazda.

The woman reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. It does not appear that anyone from the Mazda was hurt. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a driver moves through a red light and ends up seriously injured, the conversation often stops at blame. But understanding how and why a driver entered the intersection at the wrong time—especially at night—requires looking at more than just the signal.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?

The critical question here is whether investigators confirmed how long the light had been red, how fast both vehicles were moving, and whether the driver had a clear opportunity to respond. Did the scene review include an examination of timing sequences from the signal controller? Were there skid marks or any signs the Elantra tried to stop? Intersection crashes late at night need to be reconstructed carefully, but that only happens when agencies commit time and expertise to the task.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?

If the Hyundai Elantra entered on red without slowing, mechanical failure should be on the table. A stuck throttle, brake failure, or malfunction in a lane-keeping or collision avoidance system could explain the failure to stop. Many newer vehicles also have semi-automated systems designed to warn drivers or intervene in such scenarios. If none of those activated—or failed to activate—it’s worth finding out why.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?

Modern vehicles like the Elantra and Mazda store data that can clarify what happened in the seconds leading up to impact. Was the driver accelerating or braking? Did the system detect a potential collision and issue an alert? That data, paired with any available traffic camera footage or signal timing logs, can provide a fuller picture of whether the crash was a driver misjudgment—or something more complex.

When someone ends up seriously hurt in a red-light crash, it’s easy to focus on what should have happened. But to truly understand what did happen, the focus has to include vehicle behavior, system performance, and evidence that can’t be seen with the naked eye.

Key Takeaways:

• Red-light crashes at night must be closely reconstructed with attention to vehicle timing and signal data.
• Brake or system failures could explain why a car failed to stop and should be ruled out with inspection.
• Vehicle and traffic data can confirm driver inputs and whether safety systems responded appropriately.