Gillespie County, TX — March 26, 2025, Lana Anderson and Tammy Anderson were killed and one was injured after a car accident at 10:39 p.m. on Highway 16.

Preliminary details about the accident say that it took place a few miles southwest of Fredericksburg.

It appears that 54-year-old Lana Anderson and 58-year-old Tammy Anderson were in a Buick Century traveling northeast along TX-16. A Toyota Corolla was traveling southwest. For reasons unconfirmed, the two vehicles collided.

Both Lana Anderson and Tammy Anderson were killed due to the crash. The Toyota driver had reportedly minor injuries. Right now, additional details about the accident are unavailable.

Commentary

Following any serious car accident, it's important to make sure evidence is being preserved and that investigators aren't being too narrow in their efforts. That's especially true when some of the victims aren't around to tell their side of the story. In my experience, there are three key questions that can help families gauge how investigations are being handled.

First, it’s important to find out whether investigators had the time and resources to fully document the crash scene. At nearly 11:00 p.m., visibility is reduced, and crucial details like vehicle positions, impact points, and road conditions can easily be missed if officers are working under a time crunch or without proper equipment. Without a complete reconstruction, critical context may slip under the radar.

Next, there’s the question of whether a vehicle defect might have played a role. Mechanical failures—like brake malfunctions, steering issues, or tire defects—can cause a driver to lose control without warning. Additionally, safety features, like seatbelts and airbags, may fail to prevent otherwise preventable injuries. These kinds of problems often require a thorough inspection of the vehicles involved. If such an inspection is put off for too long, vital evidence could deteriorate.

Lastly, has all the available electronic data been preserved? Many vehicles today store detailed information about things like speed, braking, and steering inputs leading up to a crash. Paired with phone records or nearby surveillance footage, this data can help clarify the sequence of events. But this evidence is time-sensitive, and unless someone takes steps early on to secure it, it may be lost.

These questions give authorities an opportunity to show whether or not they're taking proper steps to get a family the answers they need. If authorities have satisfactory responses, it's likely they did good investigations. If the answers leave doubts or questions, it may be that a secondary investigation is needed to get the whole story. Either way, being proactive is generally best when it comes to getting people a proper resolution after a deadly car accident.