Bell County, TX — June 27, 2025, Julia McHatton was injured due to a single-car accident at approximately 2:00 a.m. along Interstate Highway 35.

According to authorities, 23-year-old Julia McHatton was traveling in a southwest bound Lexus on I-35 near 57th Street when the accident took place. Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the Lexus was involved in a single-vehicle collision. McHatton reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. 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 someone is seriously hurt in a single-vehicle crash, especially in the early morning hours, the easy assumption is driver error. But that kind of shortcut often skips past the most important questions—ones that could reveal whether the crash was truly avoidable.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?

Understanding how and why the Lexus left its path requires more than a basic scene report. Investigators should examine tire marks, roadway conditions, and vehicle positioning to determine whether evasive action was taken, and what might have triggered it. Did something cause the driver to swerve? Was there an obstruction in the road? If that kind of detail wasn't captured at the time, critical information may already be missing from the record.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?

Even in newer vehicles, mechanical failures are still possible—and in a crash like this, they need to be ruled out. A sudden steering issue, braking system malfunction, or throttle irregularity could explain why the driver lost control. These issues aren’t always obvious and require a detailed inspection of the vehicle. Without one, a key factor may remain buried.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?

The Lexus likely contains an onboard data recorder that logs vehicle behavior—speed, brake usage, steering angle, and more—in the seconds before impact. That data can help establish whether the driver made a sudden maneuver or if the vehicle itself failed to respond. GPS data or phone usage records might also fill in the picture. If this evidence isn’t retrieved and reviewed, the investigation risks relying solely on incomplete physical clues.

Not every crash fits a simple explanation. Digging deeper into vehicle behavior and pre-crash conditions helps ensure that key factors aren’t left out of the story.

Takeaways:

• A full scene review is needed to understand why the vehicle lost control.
• Mechanical issues can contribute to crashes and should be ruled out with an inspection.
• Vehicle telemetry offers essential insights into driver actions and system response.