Smith County, TX — June 8, 2024, Donna Copeland and two others were injured in a car accident just after 4:00 p.m. along the I.H. 20 frontage road.

According to authorities, a 65-year-old man and 59-year-old Donna Copeland were traveling in an eastbound Jeep Wrangler on the I-20 frontage road at the County Road 411 intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a southbound Honda HR-V occupied by a 22-year-old woman entered the intersection at an unsafe time, failing to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign. A collision consequently occurred between the front-end of the Jeep and the right side of the Honda.

Copeland and the woman from the Honda both suffered serious injuries over the course of the accident. The man who had been driving the Jeep sustained minor injuries, as well, according to reports. All three were 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 crash sends multiple people to the hospital, including two with serious injuries, it’s not enough to focus on who had the right of way. The real concern is whether anyone took the time to understand how each decision, system, or moment contributed to the outcome. That kind of clarity doesn’t come from assumptions—it comes from digging into the details.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
A stop-sign failure at a busy frontage road is a critical event that deserves more than a basic report. Did investigators assess whether the HR-V came to a full stop or rolled through? Was there any analysis of the Jeep’s speed or line of travel? And was the intersection mapped in a way that could help reconstruct the timing and angles involved? These are the questions that shape whether fault is clear-cut or more nuanced—but depending on who’s doing the work, they’re not always asked.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
It’s possible the driver of the HR-V made a poor decision, but it’s also possible the vehicle didn’t respond as expected. A delayed brake response, a failed stop-assist feature, or a visibility issue could all affect how the situation unfolded. On the Jeep’s side, did its braking system function properly during the approach, or did a mechanical issue reduce stopping power? Without mechanical inspections, none of those possibilities are ruled out—and that leaves key questions unanswered.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Both vehicles likely contained data systems that logged speed, braking, and steering actions. Was that information pulled and reviewed? Did nearby security or traffic cameras capture the intersection during the moments before impact? Even GPS data or phone-based driving apps might show patterns or responses that are otherwise invisible. These digital tools can confirm timing and reaction, but they only help if someone knows to use them.

Injuries this serious deserve more than just a citation and a line in a report. The goal isn’t to assign blame—it’s to make sure nothing important was missed. That’s how real accountability begins.

Key Takeaways:

• Intersection crashes with serious injuries need detailed reconstruction, not just surface-level reporting.
• Mechanical failures in either vehicle can influence stop-sign behavior or crash response.
• Data from onboard systems and nearby cameras can reveal key facts often left out of reports.