Frio County, TX — August 28, 2024, 19-year-old Daniel Nuñez was injured in a single-car accident shortly before 12:00 midnight along Interstate Highway 35.

According to authorities, 19-year-old Daniel Nuñez was traveling in a southwest bound Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck on Interstate Highway 35 in the vicinity of Tyree Lane when the accident took place.

The cause of the accident remains unclear. Officials indicate that, allegedly due to high winds, the pickup truck veered to the right, leaving the roadway and striking a guardrail. It then continued off of the roadway and into a burrow ditch, crashing into a concrete culvert below a bridge before traveling up the other side. Nuñez reportedly suffered serious injuries over the course of the accident. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time.

Commentary

When a single-vehicle crash occurs during high winds and results in serious injuries, the natural tendency is to write it off as bad luck or simply an unavoidable encounter with the elements. But from what I’ve seen, even when weather plays a role, it’s rarely the only factor. In cases like this one along Interstate 35 near Tyree Lane, there are three critical questions that should be asked to understand what truly happened.

First, did the authorities conduct a thorough investigation? Weather-related crashes demand more than just a passing mention of environmental conditions. Investigators should have documented the strength and direction of the wind at the time of the crash, the layout and elevation of the roadway, and whether any structural or design features—like guardrail placement or shoulder width—may have exacerbated the risk. Was the vehicle already partially on the shoulder when the wind picked up? Did the embankment or ditch leave the driver with nowhere to recover? These are questions that deserve a closer look, and if they weren’t answered in the initial report, an independent review may be needed.

Second, has anyone considered whether a mechanical failure contributed to the vehicle leaving the roadway? High winds can make driving difficult, but a properly functioning vehicle should be able to maintain lane position under most conditions. If the Chevrolet Silverado had an issue with steering, suspension, or even tire alignment, that could have made the driver more vulnerable to losing control. A forensic inspection of the vehicle may reveal defects or malfunctions that weren’t visible at the crash scene—assuming the vehicle is preserved and available for examination.

Lastly, has all the electronic data from the vehicle been collected? The Silverado likely contains an event data recorder that stores vital pre-crash information—steering input, braking, speed, and throttle use. That data can help determine whether the driver was attempting to correct the vehicle’s path or whether something in the vehicle failed to respond. Additional sources like GPS logs or dashcam footage could also provide insight into how the vehicle behaved in the moments before impact. As with any digital evidence, this information is time-sensitive and must be secured early.

Even when weather is involved, it's critical to avoid assuming it was the sole cause of a serious crash. Asking these questions is the least that can be done to ensure that those affected by this crash get the clarity and closure they deserve.