Rosenberg, TX — October 31, 2024, a man was killed and Johanna Fuentes and two others were injured in a car accident just after 10:00 a.m. along F.M. 723.

According to authorities, three people—65-year-old Johanna Fuentes, a 58-year-old man, and a 3-year-old child—were traveling in a westbound Chevrolet Trailblazer on Cumings at the F.M. 723 intersection when the accident took place.

The intersection is apparently controlled by a traffic signal. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a northbound Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck occupied by a 37-year-old man failed to heed the lights indicated by the signal, entering the intersection at an apparently unsafe time. This resulted in a collision between the pickup truck and the Trailblazer.

The man from the Chevrolet reportedly suffered fatal injuries due to the wreck. Fuentes sustained serious injuries, as well, according to reports, while the child and the man from the pickup received more minor injuries. 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 at a signal-controlled intersection results in a fatality and multiple injuries, like the one involving Johanna Fuentes and her passengers, the natural instinct is to focus on whether someone ran a red light. But that’s only one part of the story. In my experience, understanding how a crash like this really happened requires asking three critical questions that go beyond what’s immediately visible.

First, did authorities conduct a thorough investigation? Signal-controlled intersections should be among the most straightforward places to determine fault, but they also require precise analysis—what phase was the light in, how long had it been that way, and were both drivers able to see the signal clearly? Investigators should gather intersection camera footage (if available), interview witnesses, and review traffic light timing logs. That kind of analysis can take time and specialized knowledge, and not every agency has the resources to do it thoroughly. When a crash results in loss of life, a second look by an independent accident reconstruction expert can be crucial to uncovering all the facts.

Second, has anyone looked into whether a vehicle defect played a role in the crash? If a driver failed to heed the signal, the assumption is often human error—but it’s important to consider whether the vehicle responded the way it was supposed to. Could there have been a brake failure in the Dodge Ram, or an issue with throttle control or the signal recognition system, if the vehicle had driver assistance features? These possibilities won’t come to light without a forensic examination of the vehicle, and that requires it to be preserved before being repaired or scrapped.

Finally, has all of the electronic data related to the crash been collected? Modern vehicles like both the Dodge Ram and Chevrolet Trailblazer typically store critical pre-crash data—speed, braking input, throttle response, and even whether the driver attempted to steer away from the collision. This information can be pivotal in confirming what each driver was doing in the moments leading up to the crash. Additionally, traffic camera footage, nearby surveillance systems, and even phone data might help clarify the timing and sequence of events. But this evidence is time-sensitive and must be secured quickly to avoid loss.

In a case like this, where lives were lost and others permanently altered, assumptions simply aren’t good enough. 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.