Jim Wells County, TX — October 23, 2024, Francisco Costilla was killed and two others were injured in a car accident at approximately 6:15 a.m. along S.H. 359.

According to authorities, 36-year-old Francisco Costilla and a 17-year-old boy were traveling in a southbound Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck on S.H. 359 in the vicinity south of F.M. 1539 when the accident took place.

Weather conditions in the area at the time were reportedly foggy. Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, a northbound Ford F-250 occupied by a 19-year-old man failed to safely maintain its lane of travel. It apparently veered left of center, entering the oncoming lane of traffic. There, reports state that it was involved in a collision with the southbound Silverado.

Costilla sustained fatal injuries due to the wreck, according to reports, and was declared deceased at the scene. The boy who was with him in the Silverado and the man from the Ford each sustained serious injuries, as well, and were transported to area medical facilities in order to receive necessary treatment. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash occurs in low-visibility conditions and leaves one person dead and others seriously injured, as in the case involving Francisco Costilla, it’s easy to settle on weather as the primary explanation. But from what I’ve seen, even in foggy conditions, there’s usually more to the story than just reduced visibility. To fully understand how and why this crash happened, there are three important questions that should be asked.

First, did the authorities conduct a thorough investigation? A head-on collision under foggy conditions requires more than a simple review of lane positions. Investigators should evaluate not just the weather, but also the layout of the road, available signage, road markings, and whether there were any visual cues to help drivers stay in their lanes. Did the Ford F-250 drift due to confusion about the roadway, or was there another reason? These are details that need to be carefully reconstructed, and not every department has the resources or training to do that. When a crash claims a life and seriously injures others, an independent accident reconstruction may be the only way to ensure nothing is missed.

Second, has anyone considered whether a vehicle defect played a role? When a vehicle crosses the center line and collides with oncoming traffic, it’s important to ask whether the vehicle responded as expected. Was there a failure in the Ford’s steering, suspension, or brakes? Did a mechanical issue compromise the driver’s ability to stay in their lane? These kinds of failures can’t be identified from a simple visual inspection—they require a detailed forensic examination of the vehicle. If the truck is repaired or scrapped before such an inspection occurs, any potential evidence could be permanently lost.

Lastly, has all of the electronic data from the vehicles involved been collected? Both the Ford F-250 and the Chevrolet Silverado are likely equipped with event data recorders that store key pre-crash information such as speed, brake input, throttle position, and steering activity. That data can reveal whether the driver of the Ford attempted to correct course or if the vehicle’s behavior was consistent with a mechanical failure or inattention. Additionally, phone records and GPS data could help confirm what was happening in the moments before impact. But this type of evidence is time-sensitive and must be secured promptly.

When someone loses their life and others are seriously hurt, it’s not enough to point to fog and move on. We owe it to those involved to ask the hard questions and pursue every possible explanation. 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.