Dallas County, TX — August 21, 2024, three people were injured due to a single-car accident at 12:15 a.m. along Interstate Highway 35E.

According to authorities, three people—a 21-year-old man from Arlington, a 19-year-old man and a 22-year-old man—were traveling in a northbound Chevrolet Traverse on I-35E in the vicinity of Royal Lane when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the Traverse was involved in a single-vehicle collision in which it apparently struck a fence. The 21-year-old and 19-year-old reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. The 22-year-old suffered minor injuries, as well, reports state. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a single vehicle crashes in the middle of the night, it’s tempting to stop at the obvious question: What was the driver doing? But there’s often more to it than that—especially when people are seriously hurt and the vehicle's path doesn’t make immediate sense.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Single-vehicle crashes don’t always get the level of scrutiny they deserve. Was the Traverse’s path carefully mapped? Did investigators consider whether the vehicle swerved to avoid something—or if the driver was possibly impaired or distracted? Without a full reconstruction and follow-up interviews, key factors can easily be overlooked. It matters whether the crash was purely behavioral or if something else contributed to the loss of control.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
When a vehicle leaves the roadway and strikes a fixed object, questions about mechanical integrity should follow. Was there a steering issue, a suspension failure, or a brake malfunction? Vehicles like the Chevrolet Traverse also rely on systems like lane-keep assist and stability control. If any of those failed or delivered bad input, it could have steered the vehicle off-course. A thorough mechanical inspection is the only way to know whether a fault in the car contributed to the crash.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Modern vehicles track nearly every input in the seconds leading up to a crash. Was the driver accelerating or braking? Was there a sudden steering maneuver? Did any of the vehicle’s safety systems activate or issue warnings? That kind of information is crucial in determining whether the vehicle was reacting to road conditions, a driver decision, or a system failure. Without pulling that data, the real story behind the crash stays incomplete.

A crash with this level of damage and injury calls for more than just assumptions. Whether the cause lies in human error, mechanical failure, or something in between, the only way to know is to look at everything—closely.

Key Takeaways

• Single-vehicle crashes still require a full investigation into the vehicle's path and driver behavior.
• Mechanical or electronic system failures could be a hidden factor in sudden loss of control.
• Vehicle data can clarify what actions were taken—or not taken—just before impact.