Pearland, TX — August 24, 2024, a 14-year-old boy was killed in a car accident at about 9:50 p.m. on South Freeway Service Drive.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2017 Kia Forte was heading south near Spectrum Boulevard when it hit a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, a 14-year-old boy, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to the report.

The Kia driver was not hurt, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After a tragic incident like this, the question is rarely just what happened. It’s whether everything possible has been done to understand why it happened. That means going beyond surface details and asking harder questions that can sometimes get overlooked. When a young life is lost, those questions carry even more weight.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Police reports often focus on the basics: time, place and a short narrative of events. But thorough investigations go well beyond that. Did the officers reconstruct the crash scene with precision tools like laser mapping? Did they track where the vehicle came from and how fast it was moving in the moments before impact? These steps matter, especially at night, when judging movement, timing and visibility can be more complicated. Not every department is equipped or trained to dig deep into collision dynamics, and sometimes that leaves key facts on the table.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? A vehicle doesn’t have to look damaged for something to be wrong with it. Faulty sensors, delayed braking systems or malfunctioning driver alerts can all play a role in crashes involving pedestrians. Especially in newer vehicles like the one involved here, it’s worth asking if the car’s safety systems operated correctly. If no one takes the time to inspect those components, we might never know if a hidden failure contributed to the outcome.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Modern cars store a lot of information, from speed and braking to steering and warning systems. In some cases, a vehicle’s own data can show whether the driver responded in time or if distraction played a role. Likewise, phone records, nearby traffic cameras and even GPS history could offer a clearer picture of what really happened. But this kind of digital evidence often goes uncollected unless someone pushes for it.

Some crashes seem straightforward on paper, but that’s exactly why deeper questions are so important. A child’s life was cut short, so making sure we’ve learned everything we can from that moment is the least we owe.

Key Takeaways:

• Basic crash reports often leave out critical details that could change our understanding of what happened.
• Mechanical issues and safety system failures don’t always leave visible clues but can still play a major role.
• Electronic data from the car, phones or nearby cameras can answer questions that witnesses can't.