Dallas, TX — January 18, 2025, Ana Ortiz was injured in a hit-and-run accident at about 11:15 p.m. on North Westmoreland Road.
A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2016 Ford Mustang was headed south near West Colorado Boulevard when it hit a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse, a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2023 Tesla Model 3.
The driver of the Traverse, 45-year-old Ana Ortiz, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report. None of the other people involved in the crash were injured.
There is no information about the driver of the Mustang in the report, indicating authorities could not locate the driver after the crash.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Dallas County crash.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When I read about a crash like this, my first thought is that I hope the injured person is receiving the care she needs and that investigators are pursuing every lead to locate the driver who fled the scene. A multi-vehicle hit-and-run, particularly one resulting in serious injury, demands a thorough and timely investigation to ensure accountability. To fully understand what happened on North Westmoreland Road, we need to ask three critical questions.
First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? In a case involving a driver who fled, it’s critical that law enforcement recover any available surveillance footage from surrounding businesses, homes or traffic cameras that might show the events leading up to or following the crash. Witness statements, physical evidence from the vehicles and any identifying information left at the scene — such as the license plate or vehicle fragments — can be key in identifying the driver of the 2016 Ford Mustang. Time is a critical factor in preserving this kind of evidence.
Second, has anyone considered whether a vehicle defect may have played a role in the crash or in the extent of the injuries? While the hit-and-run nature of the crash focuses attention on the fleeing driver, it’s still necessary to evaluate whether any mechanical issues, such as brake or steering failures, may have contributed to the incident. Additionally, given the serious injury to the Traverse driver, the condition and performance of the safety systems in her vehicle — airbags, seatbelts and structural protections — should be assessed to determine whether they functioned as designed.
Finally, has all the electronic and digital data related to the crash been collected? The Ford Mustang, as well as the Chevrolet Traverse, Silverado, and Tesla, are all equipped with engine control modules that can capture important pre-crash information like speed, braking and steering input. This data could help confirm how the vehicles were behaving at the time of the crash. In addition, Tesla vehicles often contain onboard cameras that may have recorded the incident. If recovered quickly, this footage could help identify the hit-and-run vehicle and clarify exactly how the crash unfolded.
Crashes like this not only result in physical harm, but they leave the injured party and their family searching for answers and justice. A serious injury caused by a fleeing driver is not just a legal issue; it’s a matter of community safety and responsibility. Only by asking the right questions and securing all available evidence can we provide the clarity needed to hold the responsible party accountable and prevent similar incidents in the future.
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