Joshua, TX — December 17, 2024, a pedestrian was injured in a car accident at about 10:15 p.m. on State Highway 174/South Broadway Street.

A preliminary accident report indicates a 2017 Nissan Titan was heading north near Stadium Drive when it hit a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, a 57-year-old man whose name has not been made public, suffered serious injuries in the crash, according to authorities.

The driver of the Nissan is not facing any charges or citations related to the crash, according to the report.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about a crash like this, my first thought is that I hope the injured pedestrian and his family get the answers they deserve. A serious injury involving a pedestrian and a vehicle late at night is a situation that demands careful scrutiny. It’s not uncommon for people to assume that if a pedestrian was hit, it must have been due to something the pedestrian did wrong. But in my experience, these crashes are rarely that simple. To truly understand what happened on South Broadway Street near Stadium Drive, there are three essential questions that must be asked.

First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Pedestrian collisions, particularly those occurring at night, require investigators to take a close look at a number of factors. Was the area well-lit? Were crosswalks or pedestrian signals clearly marked and functioning? Did the driver have a clear line of sight, and was the pedestrian visible from a reasonable distance? Investigators should also determine whether there were any distractions or conditions that could have delayed the driver’s response. A meaningful reconstruction of the scene is necessary to answer these kinds of questions, especially when the outcome is a life-altering injury.

Second, has anyone considered whether a vehicle defect might have contributed to the crash? The 2017 Nissan Titan should be carefully examined to ensure all safety systems were functioning correctly. Were the headlights operating properly? Did any failure in the vehicle’s brakes, steering or collision avoidance systems play a role? Even something as basic as a headlight misalignment could significantly affect a driver’s ability to see a pedestrian in time. These possibilities can only be assessed if the vehicle is preserved and examined by qualified experts.

Finally, has all the electronic data related to the crash been collected? The Nissan Titan is equipped with an engine control module that can retain key data from the moments leading up to the crash: speed, throttle position and brake application, among others. That information could help confirm whether the driver was operating the vehicle safely or if evasive action was attempted. If the pedestrian was carrying a phone or wearable device, it may contain GPS data that could clarify his movement before the crash. Surveillance footage from nearby buildings or intersections might also help reconstruct the event. But all of this data is time-sensitive and must be preserved quickly.

This crash demands a thorough and impartial investigation. A man was seriously injured, and the preliminary report leaves many questions unanswered. While the absence of charges may suggest that authorities found no immediate fault, that’s not the same as a complete understanding of what happened. Only by asking the right questions, preserving all relevant evidence and conducting a full review can we hope to provide the injured man and his loved ones with the clarity and accountability they deserve.