Glasscock County, TX — April 3, 2025, John Cypert and Josephine Cypert were killed in a car accident at about 1:35 p.m. on R.M. 33 near Hilger Road.

Authorities said a 2010 Ford Expedition was passing a semi-truck on R.M. 33 when it was hit by a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado that was turning left from Hilger Road.

Ford passenger Josephine Linda Cypert, 78, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, while driver John Duwain Cypert, 80, died after being flown to a Lamesa hospital, according to authorities.

Chevrolet driver Alvarado Rosales Delgado, 50, was hospitalized with minor injuries after the crash, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash south of Big Spring.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash involves the death of two people during a passing maneuver, as it did on R.M. 33 near Hilger Road, it's crucial that the investigation doesn't stop at surface-level conclusions. A fatal collision at a rural intersection raises immediate and serious questions that must be answered through a careful review guided by three core principles: Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Has anyone considered whether a vehicle defect played a role? And has all the relevant electronic data from both vehicles been collected and preserved?

First, the circumstances described, a vehicle passing a semi-truck when another turned left into its path, demand close scrutiny of the timing, visibility and roadway layout. Was the passing zone clearly marked and legally designated? Could the Chevrolet driver see the Ford Expedition before initiating the turn? Could the Expedition driver see the turn signal or anticipate the vehicle crossing their path? These questions cannot be answered without a detailed crash reconstruction that accounts for vehicle speeds, sightlines and the relative positions of all vehicles involved, including the semi-truck that the Ford was attempting to pass.

Next, a critical question is whether a mechanical issue or system failure played any role. The Ford Expedition involved was a 2010 model, and the Chevrolet Silverado a 2021. Both vehicles have complex systems that should be examined closely. A failure in the Expedition's steering or braking systems could have limited the driver's ability to react during the passing maneuver. Likewise, if the Silverado’s turn signals were not functioning or if an advanced driver-assistance system failed to detect an approaching vehicle, that could have contributed to the crash. These kinds of failures are often not obvious at the scene and can only be uncovered through a detailed inspection of the vehicles, assuming they are preserved before being repaired or scrapped.

Finally, the value of electronic data cannot be overstated. Both vehicles are likely equipped with engine control modules capable of storing critical pre-crash information: vehicle speed, throttle position, braking input, steering angle and possibly even data from driver-assist systems. This data can be instrumental in confirming what actions each driver took and whether the vehicles responded appropriately. In cases like this, where multiple parties and road movements are involved, the electronic record often becomes the most reliable source for reconstructing the exact sequence of events.

When a crash takes two lives and leaves another person injured, it is not enough to label it as a simple failure to yield or an error in judgment. The only responsible approach is to investigate every contributing factor: road design, driver behavior, vehicle performance and digital evidence. Those affected by this crash deserve a full and honest accounting of what happened, and only by asking these three essential questions can that truth come to light.