Tom Green County, TX — June 24, 2025, one person was injured due to a single-vehicle car accident at approximately 2:00 a.m. along College Hills Boulevard.

According to authorities, five people—an 18-year-old man, two 19-year-old men, and two girls ages 16, and 17—were traveling in a southeast bound Chevrolet pickup truck on College Hills Boulevard at the Sunset Drive intersection when the accident took place.

The intersection is controlled by a traffic signal. Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the pickup truck apparently disregarded the red light given by the signal. It was subsequently involved in a single-vehicle collision.

One of the 19-year-old men who had been a passenger in the vehicle reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. The 16-year-old girl may have been injuries, as well, according to reports. 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 pickup truck loaded with young occupants crashes at a red light in the early morning hours, there’s a strong temptation to pin the cause on inexperience or recklessness. But serious injuries demand more than assumptions—they demand answers based on evidence, not appearances.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
A single-vehicle wreck at an intersection with a traffic signal isn’t just about whether the light was red—it’s about understanding how and why the vehicle entered the intersection in the first place. Was the vehicle speeding? Did it attempt to stop and fail? Did investigators collect timing data from the traffic signal or document tire marks that might indicate braking? With five people in the truck and serious injuries reported, a surface-level review wouldn’t be enough to fully understand the sequence of events.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
If the truck didn’t stop for a red light, was it because of driver inattention—or a brake system failure? Was there a problem with the steering or a fault in any of the vehicle’s safety systems? With modern trucks, even small glitches in sensor input or throttle control can have major consequences. And with the potential weight of five occupants affecting handling and stopping distance, any mechanical shortfall would be amplified. Unless a thorough mechanical inspection is done, these possibilities remain just that—possibilities.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
This crash likely triggered the truck’s event data recorder, which could reveal vital details: vehicle speed, throttle position, braking effort, and steering input in the seconds before the impact. That data can confirm whether the driver attempted to stop or if there was no reaction at all. In crashes with multiple young passengers, it’s also worth checking for distraction—cell phone activity or connected device logs might show whether the driver’s focus was compromised just before the wreck.

When one of several young passengers walks away seriously injured, the question isn’t just what happened—it’s whether everything that could have prevented it was working the way it should have. That’s what a real investigation looks for.

Takeaways:

• Crashes at signal-controlled intersections require full reconstruction, especially with multiple occupants.
• Brake or steering system failures can explain failure to stop at a red light.
• Onboard data and digital distractions may help clarify the driver’s actions before the crash.