Cesar Chavez, TX — August 7, 2024, Charles Parkinson was injured in a car accident just before midnight in the 5000 block of East Monte Christo Road/F.M. 1925.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2013 Harley-Davidson FXD motorcycle was heading east when it collided with a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu that was going north on North Alamo Road/F.M. 907.

Motorcyclist Charles Jacob Parkinson, 28, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.

The teen driving the Chevrolet was not hurt, the report states.

The report does not include any additional information about the Hidalgo County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After serious collisions, especially those involving motorcycles, there’s often an unsettling sense that too many questions are left unanswered. The scene clears, the reports get written, but the most important facts — what really caused the crash and whether it could have been prevented — don’t always get the attention they deserve. That’s when it becomes essential to dig deeper and ask the right questions.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? When a crash involves a motorcycle and a passenger car intersecting at a crossroad, the dynamics are rarely simple. Investigators should have mapped the crash site thoroughly, reconstructed the paths of both vehicles and verified whether either driver ignored traffic controls or misjudged the other’s speed. Without laser-based scene analysis or in-depth interviews, crucial factors — like whether visibility, speed or rider behavior played a role — can get glossed over. The fact that one party was seriously hurt raises the stakes, yet some departments may still treat this as routine. It matters who investigates and how much experience they bring.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? It’s easy to assume fault lies with a person, but that sidesteps a crucial part of the equation. A stuck throttle, sudden brake failure or electrical issue in either vehicle could have made a collision unavoidable. Motorcycles, especially older models, can suffer mechanical failures that go unnoticed without a detailed inspection. The same applies to a vehicle driven by a young, likely inexperienced driver. If the car responded unpredictably, that deserves scrutiny. Was either vehicle held for inspection, or were they simply towed and forgotten?

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Modern vehicles carry valuable digital records. The Malibu, even from 2006, may have some event data recording capabilities. More advanced insights could come from GPS apps, phone logs or traffic camera footage, anything that could clarify speed, braking, and exact timing. These tools can also help verify or challenge statements made at the scene, especially when two drivers offer differing versions of events. If this data wasn’t collected promptly, it may already be lost.

It’s easy to accept the first version of a crash story, especially when the reports are thin and the visible damage tells only part of the tale. But without digging into how the investigation was done, whether the machines involved were even working properly and what the digital trail reveals, the real truth can slip through the cracks.

Key Takeaways:

• Some crash investigations miss critical steps like scene reconstruction or interviewing key witnesses.
• Mechanical issues in either vehicle could have caused or worsened the crash but may not be checked.
• Phone data, GPS, and traffic cameras can help reveal what really happened, if someone retrieves them in time.