McLennan County, TX — July 18, 2024, Skyla Hearn and one other person were injured due to a car accident at approximately 8:15 p.m. along Interstate Highway 35.

According to authorities, 47-year-old Skyla Hearn was traveling in a southbound Chevrolet Malibu on I-35 in the vicinity south of 17th Street when the accident took place.

Traffic conditions in the area were apparently slowing. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a southbound Ford Escape occupied by a 61-year-old woman failed to appropriately control its speed. A collision consequently occurred between the front-end of the Escape and the rear-end of the Malibu.

Both Hearn and the woman from the Ford reportedly sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision; they were each transported to local medical facilities by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Even in slowing traffic, a rear-end collision that leaves both drivers seriously hurt raises questions that go beyond a moment of inattention. When the outcome is this severe, the investigation should be focused on how—and why—things went so wrong.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Rear-end collisions often get treated as open-and-shut cases, but the key details lie in timing, spacing, and visibility. Investigators should have measured following distance, vehicle speed, and any evidence of braking. It’s important to know whether traffic slowed suddenly or gradually, and whether the driver in the Ford Escape had any realistic chance to respond. If the scene was cleared without that kind of analysis, the opportunity to understand how the crash unfolded may already be gone.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
When a driver can’t stop in time, it’s not always operator error. Brake failure, stuck pedals, or delays in automatic braking systems could all explain why a vehicle kept moving in slow traffic. Likewise, if the Chevrolet Malibu had non-functioning brake lights or a delay in acceleration after slowing, it could affect how the following driver responded. These possibilities don’t excuse the crash, but they do shift how responsibility is understood. That’s only possible if both vehicles were inspected.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Modern vehicles like the Escape and Malibu typically log key information—speed, throttle input, braking, and seatbelt status. That data can help clarify whether the Ford driver tried to slow down and how fast the Malibu was moving when struck. Dash cams, GPS data, and any nearby surveillance may also fill in the moments before the crash. If investigators didn’t secure that information, the most objective record of what happened could already be lost.

Every crash comes with a story. But when serious injuries occur, it’s not enough to guess how it went. Those affected deserve to know whether everything that could be known has actually been uncovered.

Takeaways:

• Serious rear-end crashes in slow traffic require a close look at vehicle spacing and braking response.
• Potential failures in braking systems or vehicle alerts must be ruled out through proper inspection.
• Vehicle telemetry and video can provide a reliable account of timing and driver behavior.