San Antonio, TX — September 20, 2025, Donald Clough was injured in a motorcycle accident at about 1:30 a.m. on the frontage road for U.S. Route 281.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2002 Yamaha MJ50 motorcycle was heading north when it crashed near Evans Road.

Motorcyclist Donald Clough, 45, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After a crash, especially one involving a motorcycle, people often wonder what really happened and whether anything could have been done to prevent it. The answers aren't always simple, but the right questions can help uncover what truly led up to the event.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Motorcycle crashes can be particularly complex, yet many investigations still stop at the surface level. Was this just a matter of a rider losing control, or were there factors beneath the surface? A meaningful investigation would involve more than a quick scene survey. For example, did the investigators laser-map the crash site to capture the exact path of the motorcycle? Did they examine the rider’s actions leading up to the incident or reconstruct the timeline to determine if fatigue, distraction or another outside influence played a role? These steps require time and expertise, two things that aren't always guaranteed, especially during overnight incidents when resources may be stretched thin.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? Given the age of the motorcycle involved, it’s important to consider whether something went wrong mechanically. Even a minor failure — like a stuck throttle, worn-out brakes or a faulty tire — could cause a sudden loss of control. If no one took the time to inspect the bike thoroughly, especially in the hours right after the crash, critical evidence may already be gone. Too often, the vehicle gets towed and stored without a second glance, shutting the door on any meaningful defect analysis.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Although older motorcycles don’t usually carry the kind of onboard data systems that newer vehicles do, other sources might still hold valuable clues. Surveillance cameras along the frontage road, GPS records and even smartphone data could help piece together what happened just before the crash. Without that kind of information, any assumptions about speed, behavior or road conditions remain just that: assumptions.

When a motorcyclist is seriously hurt, it's easy to jump to conclusions about rider error. But the truth is often more complicated. Crashes don't happen in a vacuum, and the only way to understand them is by asking the right questions from the start.

Key Takeaways:

• Not all crash investigations dig deep. Some skip critical steps like scene mapping or driver behavior analysis.
• Mechanical problems, especially on older bikes, can trigger crashes and often go unnoticed without a proper inspection.
• Data from phones, cameras or GPS can offer insight, even when the vehicle itself doesn't record anything.