Houston, TX — January 23, 2026, James Simmons was injured in a car accident at about 12:40 p.m. on the service road for South Freeway/State Highway 288.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2015 Chrysler 200 was heading east on Yellowstone Boulevard when it allegedly ran a red light and hit a northbound 2021 Nissan Altima.

Nissan driver James Simmons, 70, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.

The Chrysler driver was not injured, the report states.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After serious crashes, early reports often feel complete on the surface. But those first summaries rarely show how much work still needs to be done to understand what really happened. The most important answers usually come from asking better questions, not from accepting quick conclusions.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? One of the first things to ask is whether investigators went beyond a basic scene review. That means more than taking photos and clearing traffic. A full investigation looks at vehicle positions, timing and movements before impact. It also asks how much time and attention were given to the scene and whether trained crash investigators were involved. Some officers have deep reconstruction experience, while others may not. That difference matters when injuries are serious and the facts are disputed.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? Another key question is whether the vehicles themselves were inspected. Modern cars rely on complex systems that can fail without warning. Brake problems, throttle issues or electronic glitches don’t always leave obvious signs. If investigators only focused on driver behavior and skipped a mechanical review, an important piece of the puzzle could be missing.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Today’s vehicles record more than most people realize. Speed, braking, steering and seatbelt use may all be stored electronically. Phone data, GPS history and nearby cameras can also help confirm what was happening just before impact. If this data isn’t gathered early, it can be lost forever.

When a crash leaves someone seriously hurt, the details matter. Careful investigation, mechanical review and digital evidence can turn assumptions into facts. Without that deeper look, the real cause may never come fully into focus.

Key takeaways:

• Early crash reports don’t always tell the full story.
• Vehicle problems can play a role even when they aren’t obvious.
• Electronic data often holds answers that the scene alone cannot show.