Wise County, TX — August 14, 2024, Raudel Perez was killed due to a bicycle versus car accident shortly before 7:30 a.m. along Cemetery Road.

According to authorities, 72-year-old Raudel Perez was traveling on a northbound bicycle on Cemetery Road in the vicinity north of Greenwood Road when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, a southbound Ford F-250 pickup truck veered left-of-center, entering the oncoming lane of traffic. There, it was consequently involved in a collision with the northbound bicycle. Perez reportedly sustained fatal injuries as a result of the accident. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a cyclist is killed on a quiet road early in the day, it’s not just a tragedy—it’s a signal that something went seriously wrong in a setting where both road users should have had plenty of space. In situations like this, surface-level explanations don’t cut it. Real understanding comes from asking deeper, more focused questions.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
A truck crossing into the opposite lane and striking a cyclist raises immediate questions about the driver’s actions and the vehicle’s path. Did investigators laser-map the scene? Did they determine how far the vehicle traveled left of center and why? Were toxicology screens done, and were cell phone records checked? These aren’t just technical steps—they’re how you figure out whether the crash was avoidable. And yet, depending on the responding agency’s training or workload, such critical details can be skipped or left incomplete.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
A sudden lane departure like this demands a closer look at whether something inside the truck malfunctioned. Was there a steering issue? Did a tire blow out? Was the driver using an advanced driving assist system that didn’t respond properly? Trucks like the Ford F-250 often carry heavy loads and are exposed to wear and tear that could affect handling. If no mechanical inspection was done, it’s hard to say for sure that this was solely a matter of driver error.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
The most revealing evidence may be stored in the truck’s event data recorder—speed, steering input, brake use, even lane departure alerts. That data can confirm whether the truck drifted slowly, swerved suddenly, or made no evasive move at all. Paired with GPS logs or nearby surveillance footage, that kind of data can tell the story far more accurately than memory alone ever could.

When a cyclist is struck head-on by a vehicle that shouldn't have been there, there’s no room for guesswork. Lives don’t get lost in isolation—they’re lost in moments shaped by choices, conditions, or failures that someone needs to uncover.

Key Takeaways

• A full investigation should document why the truck crossed into oncoming traffic.
• Mechanical issues in the pickup could explain an unexpected lane departure.
• Onboard data and potential surveillance can clarify the vehicle’s exact movements.