Lubbock, TX — November 15, 2025, Irvin Cortes and Shakyra Owens were injured due to a car accident at approximately 8:30 p.m. along MLK Jr. Boulevard.
According to authorities, 18-year-old Irvin Cortes and a couple other people were on foot outside of their vehicle following a previous accident between an Audi and a Jeep in the vicinity of the MLK Jr. Boulevard and East 10th Street intersection when the accident took place. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, Cortes was struck by a northbound GMC Yukon.
Cortes reportedly sustained serious injuries due to the collision. He was transported to an area medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. 22-year-old Shakyra Owens—who had been a passenger in the Jeep—received moderate injuries, reports state, and was also transported for care. Several others involved in the two separate crashes sustained minor injuries, as well. 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 person is hit after stepping out of a vehicle involved in a crash, the situation becomes far more complex than a typical collision. In these chain-reaction incidents, the real issue is whether investigators took the time to understand how the sequence unfolded—and whether it could have been prevented.
1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Any time pedestrians are struck in the aftermath of a prior accident, investigators need to treat the area as a dynamic scene. Were the positions of the original vehicles documented in detail? Did officials determine how long Cortes had been on foot and whether there were any warnings or indicators for oncoming traffic? Understanding the timing between the first and second impacts is essential—and if that wasn’t captured, key facts may already be lost.
2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
When a driver strikes someone standing outside a vehicle, it’s fair to ask whether their own vehicle responded properly. Could the GMC Yukon have experienced brake delay, steering issues, or failed sensors—particularly if pedestrian detection systems were in place? These questions aren’t just technical—they’re central to whether the second crash could have been avoided. A proper inspection of the Yukon is the only way to find out.
3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Modern vehicles, especially larger SUVs like the Yukon, typically record speed, braking, and steering behavior. Did the driver attempt to brake or swerve before the collision? Were headlights on? Was there dashcam or street camera footage showing the approach to the crash scene? In incidents involving pedestrians outside a vehicle, electronic evidence is often the only way to confirm driver awareness and reaction time.
When a serious injury happens during the fallout of an earlier crash, it’s not enough to treat it as bad luck. The investigation must take in the entire chain of events—from the first impact to the last—and determine who had the opportunity to prevent further harm.
Takeaways:
- Secondary crashes involving pedestrians demand full reconstruction of both the original and follow-up events.
- Mechanical or sensor failure in the striking vehicle may impact how the driver responded.
- Electronic data and camera footage are critical for verifying timing and driver actions in evolving crash scenes.
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