Denton County, TX — March 6, 2025, three teenagers were injured in a car accident at approximately 11:45 a.m. along North Mayhill Road.

According to authorities, three teenagers—a 16-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old boy—were traveling in a southbound Kia Soul on North Mayhill Road in the vicinity of the Russell Newman Boulevard intersection when the accident took place.

The intersection appears to be controlled by a traffic signal. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the Soul failed to stop for the lights indicated by the traffic signal, entering the intersection at an apparently unsafe time. This resulted in a collision between the front-end of the Soul and the left-front quarter of a Subaru Legacy that had been traveling eastbound on Russell Newman.

The 15-year-old boy from the Soul reportedly sustained serious injuries due to the wreck. The other two occupants of the Soul sustained minor injuries, reports state. No other injuries have been reported. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary

Whenever I see a report involving young drivers and serious injuries, especially at an intersection controlled by a traffic signal, I can’t help but think about how much we rely on proper investigation to separate assumption from fact. Crashes involving teenagers are often chalked up to inexperience or distraction, but those are just guesses until the evidence is thoroughly examined. That’s why it's essential to begin with three key questions when looking into an accident like this one.

First, did the authorities conduct a thorough investigation of the crash? A collision in an intersection, especially one involving a possible red-light violation, demands more than a standard report. Did investigators confirm the timing of the traffic signals? Did they review video from traffic or surveillance cameras nearby? Were there witnesses who could provide perspective on which vehicle had the right-of-way? These steps are crucial for understanding what actually happened, and without them, it's easy for the story to default to assumptions about driver error—particularly when teenagers are involved.

Second, has anyone looked into whether a vehicle defect played a role? The Kia Soul may have experienced a brake system failure or an issue with the vehicle’s traction control—either of which could cause a failure to stop in time, especially if the roadway was slick. Additionally, if the vehicle’s electronic driver-assist features were active, a malfunction could have contributed to the failure to stop. A thorough inspection of the vehicle is necessary to rule out—or confirm—whether a defect contributed to the collision. Unfortunately, many vehicles are repaired or disposed of before such an inspection can take place, erasing crucial evidence.

Lastly, has all relevant electronic data been collected? The Soul likely contains an event data recorder that could provide invaluable insight into how fast it was going, whether the driver braked, and what steering inputs were made just before the crash. That data, along with GPS logs and possible cellphone activity, can help paint a clearer picture of what was happening inside the vehicle. Collecting this information quickly is critical; once lost, it may never be recovered.

At the end of the day, answering these questions could be essential to understanding what really happened and why. A thorough examination of all three of these issues—including the quality of police investigations, possible vehicle defects, and electronic data—is the least that can be done to ensure that those affected by the crash receive the clarity they deserve.