Houston, TX — September 7, 2024, Marvin Caldwell was injured in a car accident at about 9:45 p.m. in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 14500 block of Woodforest Boulevard.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2006 Dodge Durango hit a pedestrian after turning a corner at the complex, then the driver continued on to her garage.

The pedestrian, Marvin Caldwell, suffered minor injuries in the collision, according to the report.

The Dodge driver, who was not injured, was charged with failure to stop and render aid after an accident, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After any pedestrian crash, especially one in a seemingly familiar place like a residential parking lot, it’s tempting to assume everything is straightforward. But quick assumptions often miss critical details that could shift how we understand what happened.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? An incident like this, occurring in a parking lot and involving a pedestrian, demands more than just a surface-level inquiry. Did investigators reconstruct the path the SUV took or analyze how much visibility the driver had when making the turn? It’s not clear whether authorities performed a comprehensive scene analysis, especially given that the driver left the area and returned home. In complex environments like apartment complexes, details get missed unless investigators take time to map out movements and speak with multiple witnesses. Too often, that level of scrutiny doesn’t happen.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? It’s easy to blame the person behind the wheel, and in many cases, rightly so. But it’s worth asking whether the SUV had any issues that made it harder to avoid the pedestrian. Could faulty brakes or poor steering response have played a role? A 2006 Dodge Durango is old enough that mechanical problems could exist without the driver even knowing. Unless someone conducted a thorough inspection of the vehicle, there’s no way to rule that out.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? A lot can be learned from available data if someone goes looking. The vehicle itself may have retained speed and brake data, and nearby cameras — either from the apartment complex or residents — might show how fast the SUV was going or whether the driver paused after the collision. If the driver had a phone in use at the time, it could also shed light on whether distraction was a factor. It’s unclear if any of this was examined.

Every crash has layers. The surface may suggest a clear story, but deeper questions often tell a more accurate one. It’s those questions that help uncover accountability and, just as important, prevent the next incident from happening.

• Minor injuries still deserve full investigations.
• Older vehicles should be inspected for hidden defects.
• Camera and vehicle data often hold the key to what really happened.