Carthage, TX — September 24, 2024, Buddy Todd Jr. and Bonnie Todd were killed in a single-vehicle accident on Saint Mary Street in Panola County.
According to authorities, the incident happened around 2:00 p.m. on the 1100 block of North St. Mary Street near Hunter Road. Preliminary investigation suggests 81-year-old Buddy Todd Jr. was driving a Mazda CX-5 south on the roadway when he may have lost control for unknown reasons. The vehicle traveled off the roadway and crossed through some railroad tracks, then overturned and rolled several times. It ultimately came to rest on its driver side.
Buddy Todd Jr. and his passenger Bonnie Todd, 82, were fatally injured in the crash. A family member reportedly told officers that Buddy Todd had occasional seizures and should not have been driving.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Reports about this accident suggest the driver had a medical condition that may have taken his control away. I have no reason to doubt police findings, and a seizure might explain the general fact pattern of the accident, but I also wonder if officials took that to mean a medical episode was the lone causal factor. Did they perform their due diligence and find out whether anything else contributed to the crash? Moreover, did they look closely at the vehicle to find out whether its safety features (brakes, seat belts, airbags) worked correctly at the time of impact?
That’s not to suggest I know something police don’t; decades of this work have just taught me that even an accident with a seemingly-clear explanation may not be as straightforward as it seems. Most crashes aren’t truly due to a single issue, but rather a combination of factors coming together in a bad way. That’s why a careful and open-minded investigation is always merited, or there’s a strong risk that something important will slip through the cracks.
Maybe another look wouldn’t reveal any other significant factors in the Carthage accident, but that couple’s loved ones deserve to know they have all the available information. Did police put in the time and effort to give them that assurance?
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