Reeves County, TX — December 19, 2024, Alan Debus, Loreli Cobb, and another were injured in a car accident at approximately 1:45 p.m. along Interstate Highway 10.
According to authorities, 71-year-old Alan Debus was traveling in a southeast bound Tesla Model Y on I.H. 10 in the stretch between Saragosa and Fort Stockton when the accident took place.
Officials indicate that the Tesla had defective and/or slick tires at the time, which may have contributed to the accident. Reports state that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the Tesla failed to safely maintain its lane of travel. It was consequently involved in a sideswipe collision with a Chevrolet 4500HD occupied by Loreli Cobb and a 19-year-old woman. The Chevrolet apparently had a trailer in tow, as well. The Chevrolet overturned over the course of the accident, according to reports. All three people involved reportedly suffered serious injuries due to the wreck. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a crash involves a vehicle potentially operating with defective or slick tires—especially on a high-speed corridor like Interstate 10—the implications go far beyond a simple loss of control. In my experience, tire issues are among the most under-investigated contributors to serious crashes. And in a collision that causes a vehicle to overturn and results in multiple people being seriously injured, there are three key questions that should be asked.
First, did the authorities conduct a thorough investigation? When tire condition is already under scrutiny—as it appears to be with the Tesla in this crash—it’s critical to document whether the tires were appropriate for the vehicle, whether they had sufficient tread, and whether they were properly inflated. Investigators should also determine whether the vehicle’s alignment or load distribution may have caused uneven wear or degradation. A full scene investigation should include vehicle dynamics, the condition of the trailer, and the layout of the crash—especially if one of the vehicles overturned. These are not always addressed in a standard crash report, and if they weren’t captured here, an independent reconstruction could provide answers.
Second, has there been a proper forensic examination of the tires and the vehicle itself? If the Tesla’s tires were defective from the outset, that could point to a manufacturing issue, improper installation, or a mismatch between tire type and driving conditions. If the tires were simply worn or bald, it raises questions about vehicle maintenance—and potentially about whether the car’s onboard systems properly alerted the driver to that risk. Similarly, the trailer’s role in the Chevrolet’s overturning deserves attention, particularly whether the trailer load was balanced and securely attached. These are details that can only be evaluated through physical inspections of both vehicles and the trailer.
Lastly, has all of the available electronic data been retrieved from both vehicles? The Tesla Model Y is equipped with sophisticated onboard diagnostics and driving data, including pre-crash speed, braking, lane position, and steering behavior. That information, along with GPS data and dashcam footage, could help determine whether the driver attempted to correct the vehicle’s course and whether the vehicle’s systems reacted appropriately. Similar event data from the Chevrolet 4500HD could show how the vehicle and trailer responded to the impact and what led to the rollover. As always, this data must be secured promptly before it becomes inaccessible.
When tire condition may have played a role in a crash that left multiple people seriously injured, these questions are not just helpful—they’re essential. Asking them is the least that can be done to ensure that those affected by this crash get the clarity and closure they deserve.
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