Jeff Davis County, TX — November 13, 2025, Carissa Chambers was injured in a car accident at about 5:40 p.m. on State Highway 118.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2014 Subaru Forester crashed into an embankment after swerving to avoid an animal in the road. The SUV caught fire after the crash.

Driver Carissa Chambers, 36, was seriously injured in the crash west of Fort Davis, according to the report.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Jeff Davis County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a serious crash occurs on a remote stretch of highway, it’s natural to focus on the sudden danger that sparked the event. But no matter how clear the cause might seem at first glance, there's almost always more beneath the surface, layers that only careful questioning can uncover.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Swerving to avoid an animal may explain why the vehicle left the roadway, but it doesn’t automatically explain how or why it crashed so violently into an embankment and caught fire. A proper investigation should include more than just an incident report. It calls for a detailed reconstruction of the vehicle’s path, mapping the scene with precision equipment and reviewing driver behavior in the minutes leading up to the crash. In rural counties, limited manpower and resources can sometimes mean critical aspects of a crash are left unexamined.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? When a car catches fire after a single-vehicle collision, mechanical failure needs to be on the table. Even if the initial swerve was unavoidable, it’s fair to ask whether the vehicle’s safety systems responded properly. Did the brakes lock up? Did the steering behave as expected? And crucially, was there a defect in the fuel system or electrical wiring that made a fire more likely? A full mechanical inspection is essential to rule these things out.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Modern vehicles often contain a treasure trove of data: from speed and braking to steering angle and seat belt usage. If that information was preserved, it could clarify how quickly the driver reacted, whether the car was under control and what happened in the seconds before impact. Paired with any available GPS or dashcam data, it could tell a far more complete story than a roadside report ever could.

As straightforward as this incident may appear, the difference between a full understanding and an incomplete picture often comes down to asking the right questions early. That’s the only way to know whether this was truly an unavoidable event or one with preventable elements lurking in the details.

Key Takeaways:

• Crash reports don’t always capture the full story. Deeper analysis may be needed.
• Vehicle fires after impact raise red flags about potential mechanical issues.
• Onboard data can confirm or challenge assumptions about how a crash happened.