Bastrop County, TX — May 4, 2025, Joshua McCann was killed in a car accident at about 5:15 a.m. on State Highway 71 near Smithville.

A preliminary accident report indicates a 2014 Ford F-150 was heading northwest when it veered off the road and hit a tree.

Driver Joshua Gerard McCann, 46, of LaGrange died in the crash, according to the report.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Bastrop County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Those affected by a crash like this almost always find themselves looking for answers. It's natural to want to understand what happened and why, especially when the available information is scarce. But too often, the initial investigation only scratches the surface, leaving out some of the most critical pieces of the puzzle. In cases like this, I believe three specific questions can help guide a more complete understanding of the crash.

First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? When a single-vehicle collision occurs in the early morning hours, like this one, there's always a risk that key factors might be overlooked. Investigators may quickly conclude it was a simple case of driver error, especially if no other vehicles were involved. But was the road surface checked for oil or debris? Were sightlines and lighting conditions at that hour considered? Was the driver’s route reconstructed to see if fatigue might have played a role? A complete investigation needs to take all these things into account.

Next, has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? Modern pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 have complex steering, suspension and braking systems that can fail in subtle but dangerous ways. For instance, a malfunctioning electronic stability control system or a sudden tire failure could cause the vehicle to veer unexpectedly. If a defect contributed to the truck leaving the road, it wouldn't show up on a police report unless someone specifically examined the vehicle's condition before it was towed away or salvaged. Unfortunately, those inspections often don't happen unless someone pushes for them.

Finally, has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Many vehicles from 2014 onwards are equipped with engine control modules, essentially a "black box" that can tell us how fast the vehicle was going, whether the driver braked or steered and if safety systems activated. This kind of data can be invaluable in showing whether the driver had control in the moments leading up to the crash, or if something went wrong mechanically. But this information is time-sensitive and can be lost if not preserved early in the investigation.

Taking a closer look at these questions doesn’t just help determine liability; it helps everyone involved understand what really happened. Whether it points to a simple loss of control or something more complex, having answers means being able to move forward with clarity.

Key Takeaways:

• Authorities often miss environmental or mechanical factors in single-vehicle crashes.
• Vehicle defects, like steering or tire failures, can go undetected without specific inspections.
• Electronic data from the vehicle can provide critical insights, but it must be preserved quickly.
• Asking deeper questions can change the narrative from assumption to understanding.
• A thorough investigation serves both truth and accountability.