San Angelo, TX — December 9, 2025, Jose Gallegos was killed in a car accident at about 5:45 p.m. on U.S. Highway 277 south of San Angelo.

Authorities said a southbound 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander collided with a 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer that was going west of Reece Road.

Chevrolet driver Jose V. Gallegos, 76, of San Angelo was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

The Mitsubishi driver suffered minor injuries, the report states.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Moments after a serious collision, the pressing questions often extend far beyond what’s initially obvious. When someone loses their life on the road, there’s a natural tendency to look for quick explanations, but that’s rarely enough. Getting to the truth takes effort, and that begins by asking the right questions.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? When two vehicles collide at a rural intersection, it’s easy to assume a simple failure to yield or missed signal. But those assumptions only hold if investigators dig deep. Did they reconstruct each vehicle’s path using reliable data points? Were the speeds of both vehicles measured accurately? Did anyone check whether either driver was distracted or impaired before the crash? These aren't automatic steps; they require time, training and a willingness to look past surface-level causes. Unfortunately, the quality of crash investigation can vary wildly from one department to the next, and that often shapes the entire understanding of what really happened.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? With older vehicles on the road, mechanical reliability becomes a real concern. Did the Trailblazer experience a brake failure, steering problem or engine stall that left the driver unable to avoid the crash? On the other hand, could the newer Mitsubishi have accelerated unexpectedly or suffered from a faulty sensor? Vehicles involved in fatal crashes should always undergo thorough mechanical inspections; not just to rule things out, but to uncover problems that might otherwise be missed.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Today’s vehicles can tell a story all on their own. Engine control modules might show whether either car braked, swerved or sped up in the final seconds. GPS systems and phone records can provide added context. Was someone lost, distracted or actively navigating? Traffic or security cameras nearby might even capture the sequence from a third-party perspective. If those sources haven’t been tapped, there's a risk the picture remains incomplete.

When someone dies in a collision like this, the path to clarity isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about gathering facts. That can’t happen unless investigators look beneath the surface. The truth is often more complicated than it first appears.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not clear whether investigators dug into driver behavior or vehicle paths.
• No mention of mechanical inspections raises questions about possible defects.
• Key electronic data may not have been reviewed to understand what led up to the crash.