Houston, TX — June 22, 2025, Yohance Sampson was killed in a car accident at about 8:10 p.m. in the 16500 block of Imperial Valley Drive.

Authorities said a Toyota Tacoma was heading south when it apparently ran a red light and crashed into a Harley-Davidson FLT motorcycle. The pickup veered off the road and hit a concrete barrier after the collision.

Motorcyclist Yohance Sampson, 49, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

The Toyota driver was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Harris County crash. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After devastating crashes, questions often swirl about how something so sudden could happen in a place so familiar. When motorcycles are involved, the outcomes are often more severe and the need for precise answers becomes even more urgent.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? When a crash involves a motorcycle and results in a fatality, it's essential that investigators go beyond just photographing the scene. That means laser-mapping the intersection, tracking vehicle paths to determine speed and direction and piecing together how long each light phase lasted. It also includes closely examining the pickup driver’s conduct in the minutes before the impact: were they distracted, impaired or rushing through a stale green? These are complex questions that demand more than a surface-level report, especially when a red light violation is suspected.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? At first glance, a pickup running a red light might seem like a simple case of driver error. But what if something in the Tacoma failed? A malfunctioning brake system or sticky throttle could explain a driver’s inability to stop in time. Mechanical issues can be easy to overlook unless someone takes the time to inspect the truck thoroughly. When tragedy strikes this hard, ruling out every possible defect is not just smart; it’s necessary.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Modern pickups and motorcycles often hold more information than we realize. The Tacoma likely had an engine control module that could confirm whether the brakes were applied or how fast it was going. Phones, GPS logs and even nearby traffic camera footage could help paint a clearer picture of what happened at that intersection. If that data hasn’t been gathered and reviewed, key pieces of the puzzle may still be missing.

Peeling back the layers of a serious crash takes more than assumptions. It takes hard data, clear inspections and the willingness to ask questions others might overlook. That’s how we get closer to the truth.

Takeaways:

• A full crash investigation should include more than just on-scene photos. It must reconstruct what happened before impact.
• Mechanical inspections are essential, even when a crash seems like simple driver error.
• Electronic data from vehicles and devices can reveal critical details that aren't visible to the eye.