Hunt County, TX — August 15, 2024, Dana Watson and two others were injured due to a car accident shortly after 1:00 p.m. along U.S. Highway 69.

According to authorities, a 66-year-old man and a 64-year-old man were traveling in a northwest bound Ford F-150 pickup truck on U.S. 69 in the vicinity southeast of Eagle Nest Drive when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the pickup truck failed to safely maintain it lane of travel. It apparently veered left, crossing over the center turn lane and entering the oncoming lane of traffic. There, it was involved in a collision with a southeast bound Toyota Tacoma pickup truck occupied by 69-year-old Dana Watson. Following the collision, the Ford left the roadway and collided with a tree. The Tacoma went into a spin and overturned, coming to a stop resting on its roof.

Watson reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. Both men from the Ford suffered minor injuries, as well. They were each transported to local medical facilities by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a vehicle suddenly crosses into oncoming traffic and causes a head-on collision, the first assumption often points toward driver error. But incidents like this one demand more than assumption—they call for a methodical look at every contributing factor, mechanical or otherwise, to understand what truly happened.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
A collision involving two pickup trucks, followed by a rollover and secondary impact, should prompt a detailed reconstruction. Did investigators document the Ford’s tire tracks, yaw marks, or steering angles to determine whether the driver tried to correct course? Was there a review of possible medical episodes or distractions leading up to the swerve? Crashes of this kind often occur in a split second, and unless trained investigators perform full scene mapping and evidence collection, critical clues about what caused the lane departure can be lost.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
When a vehicle veers sharply across lanes without warning, it’s reasonable to ask whether a mechanical failure was involved. A broken steering linkage, suspension failure, or brake issue could have caused the Ford F-150 to drift uncontrollably. Likewise, the Toyota Tacoma’s rollover raises questions about whether its stability or restraint systems performed properly. A post-crash inspection by qualified experts is essential to determine if either vehicle malfunctioned in a way that contributed to the collision or the resulting injuries.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Modern pickups like the F-150 and Tacoma store critical pre-crash data—speed, throttle position, braking, and steering inputs in the final seconds before impact. That information can confirm whether the Ford’s driver tried to steer back or if the truck failed to respond. Additionally, nearby traffic or business cameras might have recorded the event, and phone or GPS data could help verify driver actions. Without collecting and analyzing that digital evidence, investigators are left with an incomplete picture.

A violent head-on crash like this one deserves careful, evidence-based answers. Understanding why a truck crossed the center line isn’t just about determining fault—it’s about identifying every factor, mechanical or human, that made the collision possible.

Takeaways:

• Head-on collisions require full reconstruction to establish why one vehicle left its lane.
• Steering, brake, or suspension failures can mimic driver error and should always be ruled out.
• Vehicle black box data and nearby cameras are vital tools for confirming what actually happened.