Houston, TX — January 19, 2025, James Henderson and another person were injured in a car accident at about 5:40 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 10.

Authorities said a 2016 BMW 528 crashed into a 2011 Honda Accord that was disabled in the road after an earlier wreck.

BMW driver James Henderson, 59, suffered minor injuries in the crash, according to authorities, while a 31-year-old woman who was a passenger in the Honda was hospitalized with suspected serious injuries. Her name has not been made public at this time.

The Honda driver was charged with driving while intoxicated, authorities said.

An unknown pedestrian also was involved in the crash, but authorities have not released any additional information about the incident.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Crashes like the one on Interstate 10 in Houston raise serious questions, and those involved deserve to know exactly what happened. A vehicle striking another that was disabled in the roadway may seem like an unfortunate but unavoidable event, but in my experience, these incidents often involve more than meets the eye. That’s why it’s important to ask three key questions to ensure that a complete investigation is conducted.

The first question is whether the authorities conducted a thorough investigation. Multi-vehicle crashes, especially those involving disabled cars, require careful reconstruction to determine what factors contributed to the impact. Did investigators establish whether the Honda had its hazard lights on or if road lighting conditions made it difficult to see? How long had the vehicle been in the roadway before the BMW crashed into it? Were there other vehicles involved in the initial wreck, and did they contribute to the hazardous situation? Understanding the full sequence of events is critical to determining what went wrong.

The second question is whether a vehicle defect played a role in the crash. The BMW involved in the secondary collision was nearly a decade old, meaning potential mechanical failures — such as braking issues or sensor malfunctions — should be considered. Many modern vehicles are equipped with collision-avoidance systems designed to warn drivers of stopped objects in the road. Was this system functioning properly, or was there a defect that prevented the driver from reacting in time? Additionally, given that the Honda had already been involved in a previous wreck, it’s important to determine whether mechanical issues contributed to the vehicle becoming disabled in the first place. If these vehicles are repaired or scrapped before an expert examination, critical evidence could be lost.

The third question is whether all electronic data related to the crash has been collected. Both vehicles likely contain engine control modules that store key information such as speed, braking input and steering movement before impact. This data could clarify whether the BMW driver attempted to slow down or if a sudden hazard left them with no time to react. Additionally, nearby surveillance cameras, traffic cameras and even dashcam footage from passing vehicles could provide valuable insights into visibility conditions and the exact placement of the disabled vehicle. If authorities haven’t gathered this evidence, an independent investigation may still be able to recover it.

Collisions involving disabled vehicles on the highway are complex and often preventable, but only if every contributing factor is fully examined. While driver decisions play a role, so do road design, vehicle performance and available safety technology. Without answering these three key questions, it’s impossible to fully understand what led to this crash. Ensuring that no critical detail is overlooked is the best way to provide those involved with the answers they deserve.