Williamson County, TX — December 31, 2024, Reese Pfeifer was injured following a car accident shortly after 10:45 p.m. along East 4th Street.

According to authorities, 18-year-old Reese Pfeifer was traveling in an eastbound Mercury Grand Marquis on East 4th Street in the vicinity west of Carlos Parker Boulevard Southeast when the accident took place.

Details surrounding the accident remain unclear. Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, a collision took place between the Mercury and a Chevrolet Camaro. The Mercury reportedly caught on fire over the course of the accident. Pfeifer suffered serious injuries due to the wreck; it doesn't appear that anyone else was hurt. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When serious accidents occur, especially those involving significant injuries like those Reese Pfeifer sustained, a comprehensive investigation is essential to understand how and why the collision happened. Having handled numerous cases over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how carefully examining the evidence can uncover critical facts that might otherwise be overlooked. A complete investigation must focus on three key questions.

First, did the authorities conduct a thorough investigation of the crash? Law enforcement typically responds to accident scenes quickly and does their best to determine what happened. However, due to limited time and resources, crucial details such as the positions of vehicles, tire marks, or eyewitness accounts may not always be fully documented. In a case like this, where one vehicle caught fire, it’s critical to ensure that investigators properly examine the sequence of events leading up to and following the collision.

Second, has anyone considered the possibility of a vehicle defect contributing to the crash? Fires following collisions can sometimes indicate underlying mechanical or design flaws, such as fuel system issues or structural vulnerabilities. The Mercury Grand Marquis involved in this wreck should undergo a detailed forensic inspection to determine whether any defects might have contributed to the accident or exacerbated its consequences.

Finally, has all the electronic data related to the crash been preserved? Modern vehicles are equipped with event data recorders—commonly known as black boxes—that can provide invaluable information about speed, braking, and steering inputs at the time of the crash. Additionally, surveillance footage from nearby traffic cameras or businesses, as well as cell phone records, may shed light on what happened in the moments leading up to the collision.

Accidents like this one demand meticulous investigation to uncover every contributing factor. By addressing these questions, investigators can provide a clear picture of what happened and why. For the loved ones of the driver who was injured, obtaining these answers is a vital step toward clarity and closure.