Harris County, TX — January 5, 2026, Richard Acuna lost his life in a pedestrian versus car accident at approximately 11:30 p.m. along Clay Road.

According to authorities, 29-year-old Richard Acuna was on foot attempting to cross the road in the vicinity east of the Clay Road and Eldridge Parkway intersection when the accident took place. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, he was struck by a westbound Honda Accord.

Acuna—who had reportedly sustained fatal injuries due to the collision—was declared deceased at the scene. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Late-night collisions involving pedestrians tend to generate more questions than answers. When someone is struck while crossing a road, it’s easy to fall back on surface-level assumptions. But real clarity only comes when someone looks past the obvious and digs into what might have been missed.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
With incidents like this, the investigation’s depth makes all the difference. Did law enforcement reconstruct the paths of both the pedestrian and the vehicle? Did they take the time to examine driver behavior, such as whether the car was speeding or if the driver had a clear line of sight leading up to the moment of impact? Some departments are equipped to handle that level of detail; others may not go beyond a basic diagram and a few statements. When a person has lost their life, that’s not enough.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
When a car strikes a pedestrian, people tend to assume it was simply a matter of timing or visibility. But what if the Honda Accord didn’t respond the way it should have? Brake failure, faulty headlights, or malfunctioning sensors could change how much time a driver had to react—or whether they even realized someone was in the road. These possibilities don’t show up on their own; they have to be checked by someone who knows where to look.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
The moments right before impact are often a blur—but modern vehicles keep a digital record. That can include the speed of the car, whether brakes were applied, and even how long before the crash the driver tried to steer or slow down. Phones and GPS data may offer even more context. And if traffic or security cameras cover that stretch of road, the footage could be invaluable. But this kind of evidence doesn’t stick around—it has to be gathered quickly, or it’s gone.

When someone loses their life crossing a road, it’s not enough to rely on quick conclusions. Real answers come from asking the questions that others overlook—and following the facts wherever they lead.

Takeaways:

• A complete investigation should document vehicle paths and driver behavior—not just impact location.
• Vehicle systems like brakes or lights can fail, and those possibilities should be ruled out with inspection.
• Car data and nearby camera footage may hold key details about what happened in the seconds before the crash.