Harris County, TX — December 31, 2025, a man was injured due to a pickup truck accident at approximately 4:45 p.m. along the Sam Houston Tollway.

According to authorities, a 28-year-old man from Baytown, Texas, was traveling in a northbound Toyota Tacoma pickup truck on the Sam Houston Tollway (S.H. 8) at the Pasadena Freeway eastbound frontage road intersection when the accident took place.

The intersection is controlled by a traffic signal. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, an eastbound Ford F-250 pickup truck with a trailer into tow entered the intersection at an unsafe time, failing to heed the red light given by the signal. A collision consequently occurred between the Ford and the Toyota.

The man from the Toyota reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Crashes at traffic-controlled intersections often come down to one question: who had the light? But when serious injuries are involved, it’s worth asking whether the full picture has really been uncovered. A red-light violation with a heavy vehicle and trailer in tow isn’t just about timing—it’s about why that violation happened in the first place.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
When a large truck with a trailer enters an intersection against a red light, investigators should examine more than just eyewitness accounts or vehicle damage. Was the scene fully documented? Were signal timing and vehicle speeds analyzed? A detailed reconstruction can help confirm how much time either driver had to react—and whether either vehicle showed signs of slowing down or avoiding the collision. These steps are critical, but not always taken unless someone insists on a deeper look.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
A truck running a red light while towing a trailer raises legitimate questions about the vehicle’s condition. Was there a brake system failure, either on the truck or the trailer? Did the driver attempt to stop, but the vehicle failed to respond in time? A problem with brake balance or trailer sway could affect how the vehicle moved through the intersection. These aren’t just mechanical hypotheticals—they’re issues that must be ruled out through inspection, not assumed away.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Both trucks likely have event data recorders that can provide details on throttle use, braking, and speed. This kind of information can confirm whether the Ford’s driver tried to stop or if the vehicle entered the intersection without any attempt to slow down. GPS logs and mobile device records may also show whether distraction or misjudgment played a role. Without quick action to secure that data, it can disappear—taking critical context with it.

Intersections may seem routine, but when heavy vehicles collide, the consequences are anything but. Getting to the truth takes more than identifying who was in the wrong lane—it means understanding why they were there to begin with.

Takeaways:

• Full reconstruction of signal-controlled crashes is essential to verify vehicle behavior and signal timing.
• Brake or trailer system failures can cause a vehicle to enter an intersection late and must be inspected.
• Vehicle telemetry and phone data can show whether the driver tried to stop—or failed to notice the light.