Montgomery County, TX — November 19, 2025, William Bender was injured in a car accident at about 12:15 a.m. in the 2900 block of Rayford Road.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2018 GMC pickup collided with a 2015 Ford Escape while turning left onto Canyon Ranch Drive.

Ford driver William Bender, 70, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.

The two men in the GMC were not injured, the report states.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Montgomery County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

It’s easy to assume that every crash is just a matter of someone making a mistake. But in the hours and days after a serious collision, what really matters is whether anyone took the time to ask the right questions, and whether anyone’s still asking them now.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? When a left-turn crash results in serious injuries, there's often more to the story than just a failure to yield. But a full picture requires more than basic reporting. Did investigators document the scene in detail, using tools like total station mapping to capture precise vehicle positions? Did they look into the drivers’ actions before the crash, such as speed, braking or whether headlights were on? These are not always standard steps, especially in jurisdictions where crash training varies widely from one officer to the next. If a complex collision is treated like a simple one, critical details can be missed.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? A pickup making a left turn and a compact SUV continuing straight seems straightforward, but was it? If either vehicle had brake issues, faulty steering or sensor problems, that could shift how this collision is understood. Mechanical failures can be silent culprits, especially if no one checks. A crash like this raises fair questions about whether a detailed inspection of both vehicles took place before repairs or scrapping.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Many newer vehicles can tell part of the story themselves. Data from onboard systems can reveal speed, throttle position, braking and steering input right before impact. Cell phone data might confirm whether distraction played a role. Traffic cameras or nearby security footage might help fill in the gaps. If this data wasn’t gathered quickly, the chance to uncover key insights may already be gone.

When someone is seriously hurt, it’s not enough to say a crash happened. The only way to move forward is to ask what others may have missed and to demand a full accounting of every possible factor, not just the obvious ones.

Key Takeaways:

• Not all crash investigations dig deep. Some leave out critical scene details.
• Vehicle problems like brake or steering failures can cause serious crashes and often go unchecked.
• Car data, phone records, and cameras can tell what really happened, if anyone retrieves them.