Laredo, TX — February 16, 2026, Maria Cisneros was injured in a hit-and-run accident at about 8:30 p.m. in the 2800 block of Garfield Street.

Authorities said a car hit a pedestrian and drove away.

The pedestrian, 71-year-old Maria Cisneros, was hospitalized with a head injury, according to authorities.

The driver of the car, who surrendered to police shortly after the crash, was arrested and charged with failure to stop and render aid, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Serious crashes often leave more questions than answers. In the rush to respond, it’s easy to assume the basic facts tell the whole story. But when someone is badly hurt, a closer look often reveals there’s more beneath the surface than what shows up in an initial report.

One question that should always be asked is whether authorities conducted a thorough crash investigation. It’s one thing to respond to the scene and take statements. It’s another to fully reconstruct what happened. Did investigators laser-map the area and chart the exact path of the vehicle? Did they examine the vehicle for impact points and measure distances to determine speed and braking? Was the driver’s conduct leading up to the collision carefully reviewed? In cases involving pedestrians, it’s especially important to determine when the driver first had an opportunity to react and what actions were taken in those final seconds. The level of training and experience among responding officers can vary, and not every crash gets the same depth of analysis. A serious injury deserves more than a surface-level review.

Another issue that can’t be overlooked is whether a vehicle defect played a role. Even when a driver leaves the scene and later turns themselves in, that doesn’t rule out the possibility that something went wrong mechanically. Was there a brake problem? Did the accelerator malfunction? Were there issues with forward-collision warning systems or automatic emergency braking? Modern vehicles rely on sensors and onboard systems that are supposed to help prevent pedestrian impacts. A full mechanical inspection can either rule out these possibilities or uncover contributing factors that aren’t obvious from the outside.

Then there’s the question of electronic data. Most newer vehicles record key information in the seconds before a crash: speed, throttle position, brake application and steering input. That data can confirm whether the driver attempted to stop or took evasive action. Cell phone records can also show whether distraction may have been a factor. In some areas, nearby surveillance or traffic cameras might capture parts of the incident or the vehicle’s movements before and after impact. Gathering and preserving this digital evidence early is critical, because it doesn’t stay available forever.

When someone is seriously hurt, the difference between a basic investigation and a comprehensive one can shape everything that follows. Careful analysis, mechanical review and electronic data collection aren’t technical extras; they’re the tools that help ensure the full story is understood.

Key Takeaways:

• A serious pedestrian crash should prompt a detailed reconstruction, not just a standard report.
• Mechanical defects and safety system failures should always be ruled out through inspection.
• Electronic data from the vehicle and phones can provide clear answers about what happened.