Nueces County, TX — November 14, 2025, Jessica Carr was injured due to a car accident at approximately 9:45 p.m. along Saratoga Boulevard (S.H. 357).

According to authorities, 18-year-old Jessica Carr was traveling in a westbound Volkswagen Beetle on Saratoga Boulevard near the Hunt Drive intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a westbound Jeep Wrangler failed to appropriately control its speed. A collision consequently occurred between the front-end of the Jeep and the rear-end of the Beetle.

Carr reportedly sustained serious injuries as a result of the wreck. It does not appear that anyone else was hurt. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After serious crashes, early reports often settle on a simple explanation about one vehicle striking another. But when someone is badly injured, the more important question is whether investigators looked closely at how events unfolded before the impact.

Was the crash thoroughly investigated?
In a rear-end collision, a proper investigation should go beyond stating that one vehicle failed to control its speed. Investigators should examine how both vehicles were moving beforehand, how close they were traveling, and what each driver was doing in the moments leading up to the crash. That can include reviewing braking patterns, vehicle spacing, and damage angles to understand timing and reaction. The depth of this work can vary depending on the training and experience of the responding officers. Some are skilled at breaking down chain-of-events crashes, while others may rely on surface-level conclusions. In crashes involving serious injuries, that difference matters.

Has anyone looked into a possible vehicle defect?
When a vehicle does not slow as expected, mechanical issues should still be considered. Brake performance, throttle response, and transmission behavior on the striking vehicle deserve close review. The struck vehicle should also be inspected for any issues that could have affected how it responded to the impact. Modern vehicles rely on electronic systems designed to assist with braking and collision avoidance, and those systems do not always work as intended. These problems are not always obvious at the scene and may only be uncovered through a detailed inspection.

Was all available electronic data collected?
Electronic data can help clarify what actually happened before the collision. Vehicle systems may record speed, braking input, and warning activity in the seconds leading up to impact. Phone data can help determine whether distraction played a role, and nearby cameras may help confirm timing and vehicle movement. This information is time-sensitive. If it is not preserved early, it can be lost, leaving important questions unanswered.

When a rear-end crash leaves someone seriously injured, careful questions matter. A thorough investigation, close inspection of both vehicles, and full collection of electronic data help move the case beyond assumptions and toward a clearer understanding of how the crash occurred.

Key Takeaways:

• Rear-end crashes require more than a simple explanation about speed.
• Mechanical or system issues should be ruled out through inspection.
• Electronic data can clarify driver actions just before impact.