Randall County, TX — September 21, 2025, two teens were injured in a single-car accident just after 2:00 a.m. along Georgia Street.

According to authorities, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman were traveling in a southbound Kia Optima on Georgia Street at the Southwest 45th Avenue intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the Optima was involved in a single-vehicle collision in which it apparently struck a traffic signal pole. The man reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident; the woman 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 young people are hurt in a crash during the early morning hours, it's tempting to make assumptions about what caused it. But if the goal is to understand what really happened, those assumptions can’t take the place of a thorough investigation.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?

A collision with a traffic signal pole suggests the vehicle left its intended path in a way that deserves careful review. Did officers reconstruct the route the car took? Was the impact location measured and mapped, or was the scene cleared before those steps were taken? The time of day—just after 2 a.m.—can make it harder to see details and easier to overlook them. If the investigation relied only on visible damage or rough estimates, critical context may already be lost.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?

Mechanical failures don't always leave obvious signs, but they can be the difference between control and collision. A locked steering column, failed suspension part, or sudden brake issue could cause a car to veer off and strike a fixed object. If the vehicle hasn’t been closely inspected—and not just visually—then ruling out a defect would be premature. It’s easy to point to driver error, but that only tells part of the story.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?

A Kia Optima should contain a crash data recorder that captures steering input, speed, and braking just before impact. That data could show whether the driver tried to avoid the crash—or if the car didn’t respond at all. Phone activity, GPS, and possibly nearby camera footage could also help explain the lead-up to the collision. But these sources of information are time-sensitive, and if they weren’t secured early, they may already be gone.

A serious crash at any hour deserves close scrutiny. That’s even more true when it involves young drivers whose actions may be judged without all the facts. Taking the time to ask the right questions ensures those facts have a chance to come to light.

Takeaways:

• Nighttime crashes should still be fully mapped and documented, especially when injuries are serious.
• A car defect can cause loss of control—but it takes a proper inspection to find out.
• Vehicle and phone data may explain what happened, but only if it’s recovered quickly.