Florissant, MO — June 20, 2025, One person was killed and one was injured following a car accident that occurred at around 8:31 P.M. on I-270.

According to reports, a Honda Accord was traveling on Interstate 270 in the eastbound lanes near the West Florissant exit, when for unknown reasons the vehicle lost control and left the road. The Honda then struck a guardrail and continued off the exit ramp where it hit an embankment.

When first responders arrived on the scene they found two occupants seriously injured and transported them to the hospital where an unidentified 26-year-old woman was later pronounced deceased. The identities of those involved have not been released.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When serious crashes happen, especially those involving just one vehicle, they often leave more questions than answers. While some may quickly assume driver error, real clarity only comes from asking the right questions and digging into the less visible factors that could have played a role.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
One key concern is whether the investigation looked beyond surface-level clues. A crash where a vehicle veers off a highway, hits multiple objects, and ends with such severe outcomes deserves more than a routine scene report. Did investigators reconstruct the car’s path using tools like laser mapping? Did they evaluate whether the driver had any sudden medical episodes or distractions? It's also important to consider whether the officers on scene had the specialized training needed for a deep-dive investigation, especially when the sequence of impacts suggests something more complex than just swerving off the road.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
It's worth considering whether the vehicle itself contributed to the loss of control. A sudden mechanical failure—like a stuck throttle, faulty steering, or brake malfunction—could easily cause a car to veer uncontrollably. That kind of failure doesn't always leave obvious signs. Unless the vehicle was subjected to a thorough mechanical inspection, those potential causes might never be discovered. Ruling out these possibilities should be standard in any investigation where no clear cause is immediately evident.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Modern vehicles and devices often carry vital information that can paint a clearer picture of what happened in the moments leading up to a crash. Did investigators pull data from the car’s event recorder to see if the driver braked or accelerated suddenly? Was phone use or GPS activity checked to help understand where attention was focused? Traffic cameras near ramps and exits can also confirm vehicle movement or behavior. Without this digital evidence, critical details about what led up to the incident could remain unknown.

As with many single-vehicle crashes, it’s easy to settle for simple explanations. But cases like this demand closer inspection. Only by pushing beyond the obvious can we truly understand what happened—and potentially prevent it from happening again.

Takeaways:

• Not all crash investigations go far enough to reveal deeper causes.
• Vehicle defects don’t always leave visible signs—inspections matter.
• Electronic data can offer answers that witnesses or the scene can’t.