Denison, TX — May 29, 2025, Stephanie Strange was killed in a car accident at about 6 p.m. on U.S. Route 69 near Starr Road.

Authorities said a bicyclist was trying to cross the highway when she was hit by a pickup truck.

Bicyclist Stephanie Strange, 55, of Sherman died after being transported to a local hospital, according to authorities.

The pickup driver was not injured, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Grayson County crash. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When someone loses their life on the road, the tragedy often leaves a trail of unanswered questions. It's natural to want to know not just what happened, but why, and whether anything could have changed the outcome. In incidents involving pedestrians or cyclists, it’s especially important to examine more than just the surface facts.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? In cases like this, the depth of the investigation can vary wildly depending on the agency and the resources available. Was the scene mapped in detail? Did they reconstruct the movement of both the truck and the cyclist? Understanding whether the driver had enough time to react, or if they were even looking, requires more than taking measurements. Investigators should have looked into whether the driver’s behavior before impact was captured on any nearby dash cams or surveillance systems. Sadly, in many cases, officials may rely on quick observations without digging deeper into pre-impact conduct.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? With no reported issues involving the pickup, it’s easy to assume the vehicle was operating normally. But that assumption can be costly. Brake problems, faulty sensors or alert systems that failed to engage can all contribute to a deadly outcome. If no one checks the truck’s mechanical systems, any of these possibilities might be overlooked. Especially in collisions involving vulnerable road users like cyclists, even a small vehicle malfunction can have major consequences.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? It’s one thing to ask what happened; it’s another to prove it. Did investigators pull the truck’s engine control module to see how fast it was going or whether the driver hit the brakes? Was the driver’s phone checked for activity? Traffic cameras or nearby surveillance footage could fill in critical gaps, but they need to be found and reviewed quickly. In many crashes, this kind of digital evidence can either support or challenge what’s been said.

It’s hard to draw conclusions without seeing the full picture, and that’s exactly why these deeper questions matter. Surface-level answers might check boxes, but the truth lives in the details. When someone dies, we owe it to them to find those answers.

Takeaways:

• Crash investigations must go beyond basic scene analysis to find real answers.
• Mechanical issues in the vehicle can’t be ruled out without a proper inspection.
• Data from the vehicle and surrounding area can reveal the full story if it's collected.