Appleby, TX — August 11, 2025, Chloe Spencer was injured due to a car accident at approximately 6:30 p.m. along U.S. Highway 59.

According to authorities, 81-year-old Chloe Spencer was traveling in a southwest bound Toyota 4Runner on U.S. 59 in the vicinity northeast of the Cheryl Street intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, a collision occurred between the front-end of the 4Runner and the rear-end of a Chevrolet Cruze that had been traveling in the same direction. The 4Runner apparently overturned over the course of the accident. Spencer reportedly sustained serious injuries due to the wreck. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Rear-end crashes can seem straightforward, but when one of the vehicles overturns, it signals that something more unusual may have been at play. These kinds of cases deserve a closer look, because the real cause isn’t always what the first glance suggests.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
In this situation, it matters whether the 4Runner braked, swerved, or attempted to correct before impact. Investigators should determine whether the Chevrolet Cruze slowed suddenly, or if the Toyota failed to react. Rollover crashes are complex, and a meaningful reconstruction can shed light on how speed, angles, and driver behavior combined to cause the outcome. Without that deeper work, the investigation risks leaving critical questions unanswered.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
It’s important to ask whether the Toyota’s systems worked as intended. Did the brakes engage fully? Was there a steering issue or tire failure that contributed to the loss of control? The fact that the SUV overturned raises questions about stability systems, which are designed to help prevent that very outcome. On the other side, if the Cruze’s brake lights or signals malfunctioned, that too could have influenced the crash. A careful inspection of both vehicles is necessary to rule these things out.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
The Toyota likely recorded key information—speed, braking, steering input, and system alerts—in the seconds before the crash. The Cruze may also hold relevant data about its speed and whether it slowed or stopped suddenly. Beyond the vehicles themselves, nearby cameras or dashcams could provide independent confirmation. If investigators fail to secure this evidence quickly, the clearest account of what really happened may never be known.

Crashes like this show how misleading first impressions can be. A rear-end collision that escalates into a rollover deserves a full accounting—because the truth often lies in the details that aren’t immediately visible.

Key Takeaways:

• A rollover following a rear-end collision suggests deeper factors worth investigating.
• Mechanical or electronic failures in either vehicle could have contributed.
• Onboard crash data and camera footage may provide the clearest timeline—if collected promptly.