Dallas, TX — October 19, 2024, two people were injured in a car accident at about 3:45 a.m. on U.S. Route 75/Central Expressway.

A preliminary accident report indicates a 2011 Chevrolet Impala was stopped on the highway near Royal Lane when it was hit by a 2013 BMW X3 that was trying to avoid an object in the road. The impact forced the Impala into the two people standing in front of the car, while the BMW overturned after hitting a retaining wall. The BMW was then hit by a 2009 Ford Taurus.

The pedestrians were the only ones injured in the crash, according to the report. A 19-year-old Garland man was seriously injured, while a 20-year-old woman suffered minor injuries.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Dallas County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Crashes involving multiple vehicles and pedestrians on high-speed roadways like U.S. Route 75 are rarely simple, especially when they occur in the early morning hours and involve vehicles stopped on the roadway. In a case like this, where two pedestrians were injured after their vehicle was struck and pushed into them, the investigation must go well beyond surface-level assumptions. As always, the three key questions must be asked: Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Has anyone considered whether a vehicle defect may have played a role? And has all the electronic data relevant to the incident been collected and preserved?

First, the fact that the Chevrolet Impala was stopped on a major highway raises immediate concerns about visibility, vehicle condition and whether the occupants had time to exit safely. A complete investigation should determine why the vehicle was stopped: was it disabled, involved in an earlier incident or pulled over intentionally? Just as important is whether it had functioning hazard lights, how visible it was to approaching traffic and whether the pedestrians had a safe area to stand. At 3:45 a.m., visibility is limited, and any roadside activity becomes significantly more dangerous. Understanding these conditions requires a full reconstruction of the scene, including lighting, signage and traffic flow.

Second, this is a textbook situation where vehicle defects could have played a role, especially if the Impala became disabled due to a mechanical failure. Issues like engine stall, transmission problems or electrical failures could cause a sudden stop in the middle of traffic. On the other side, the BMW’s response to an object in the road should also be examined. Did the driver overcorrect, or did the vehicle’s steering or stability control system respond improperly? Was the object even avoidable at highway speed? And after the BMW struck the retaining wall, was its structural integrity compromised in a way that led to the rollover? Each of these questions points to the importance of preserving all vehicles involved for inspection.

Finally, electronic data from all three vehicles could be invaluable in understanding what happened. The vehicles involved may each contain engine control modules that recorded pre-crash data such as speed, braking, throttle position and steering input. For the BMW in particular, that data may reveal how aggressively the driver attempted to avoid the object and whether any advanced safety systems were triggered. Dashcam footage, if available, and surveillance from nearby traffic cameras could also provide vital visual confirmation of the sequence of events.

This incident highlights how quickly a situation can escalate on a highway, from a stopped vehicle to a high-speed chain reaction that seriously injures two people. To fully understand what went wrong, and to prevent similar outcomes in the future, we need to go beyond who hit whom. We need to investigate how and why the vehicles were where they were, whether they responded as they should have and what the electronic records can tell us. That’s what the injured parties deserve, and it’s what true crash accountability requires.