El Paso, TX — October 12, 2024, a pedestrian was injured in a car accident at about 11:10 p.m. in the 4700 block of Hondo Pass Drive.

A preliminary accident report indicates a pedestrian was trying to cross Hondo Pass Drive from south to north when she was hit by a westbound 2008 Isuzu i-290 pickup. The woman was not in a crosswalk at the time of the crash.

The pedestrian, a 45-year-old El Paso woman, suffered serious injuries in the crash, according to the report. Her name has not been made public at this time.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about a crash like this, my first thought is that I hope the injured woman receives the care and answers she needs to fully understand what happened. A pedestrian being struck while crossing the street outside a crosswalk, particularly late at night, is often seen as an open-and-shut case of poor judgment. But in my experience, these situations are rarely that simple. To fully understand what led to the crash on Hondo Pass in El Paso, we need to ask three critical questions.

First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? While the pedestrian was reportedly outside of a crosswalk, that doesn’t absolve the need to examine visibility conditions, traffic flow and whether there was a safe, accessible place for her to cross nearby. Was the area well-lit? Were there crosswalks within a reasonable distance, or was she forced to cross mid-block due to a lack of infrastructure? Were there obstructions — such as parked vehicles, landscaping or poor lighting — that might have prevented the driver from seeing her in time? A comprehensive scene analysis can help determine whether the crash was truly unavoidable or if other factors contributed.

Second, has anyone considered whether a vehicle defect played a role in the crash? The 2008 Isuzu i-290 is an older pickup, and the possibility of mechanical issues should not be overlooked. Were the headlights functioning properly and aimed correctly? Did the brakes or steering system operate as expected? Was the vehicle’s windshield clean and free of damage? Even relatively minor mechanical issues can drastically reduce a driver’s ability to detect and avoid a pedestrian, especially at night. Unless the vehicle is preserved and thoroughly examined, these possibilities could easily be missed.

Finally, has all the electronic data related to the crash been collected? While a 2008 vehicle may not have a modern event data recorder, it could still contain basic information in its engine control module regarding speed or system faults. More importantly, if the pedestrian was carrying a phone or wearable device, GPS or motion data might offer insight into her path and timing. Were there nearby surveillance cameras, either from businesses or traffic systems, that captured the incident or her approach to the roadway? These sources of evidence can be critical in filling in the gaps. As always, this kind of data is time-sensitive and must be preserved early in the investigation.

Crashes like this deserve more than assumptions based on the presence or absence of a crosswalk. A woman was seriously injured, and the questions surrounding the cause of that injury go far beyond her location in the roadway. Only by asking the right questions, preserving the available evidence and looking at the broader context can we ensure that those affected receive not only care, but clarity about what happened.