Tarrant County, TX — November 3, 2025, Clayton Word lost his life in a pedestrian versus car accident shortly after 9:30 p.m. along State Highway 114.
According to authorities, 28-year-old Clayton Word was on foot along S.H. 114 in the vicinity of Trophy Branch Drive when the accident took place.
Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, Word was struck by a northwest bound Kia Soul. He reportedly suffered fatal injuries over the course of the accident.
Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
It’s not unusual for late-night pedestrian collisions to raise more questions than they answer. When someone walking along a highway is struck and killed, the first instinct is often to look at where they were. But the more urgent question is what could—or should—have been done to prevent it.
1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Did officers establish where the pedestrian was positioned when the vehicle approached? Was it in a traffic lane, on the shoulder, or crossing unexpectedly? Nighttime visibility is always a factor, but was the driver’s speed consistent with safe operation in those conditions? Scene documentation should include vehicle path, lighting conditions, and any signs of evasive action. Without those details, it’s hard to know whether this was truly unavoidable—or just poorly anticipated.
2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
A sudden headlight failure, malfunctioning forward collision system, or brake issue could limit a driver’s ability to detect or avoid a person in the roadway. If the Kia had any history of sensor faults or recent repairs, those details matter. Pedestrian collisions often come down to reaction time, and mechanical problems can cut that window even further.
3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
The Kia likely has event data that could show speed, throttle input, and braking effort. That information can reveal whether the driver saw the pedestrian too late—or not at all. Was there any nearby traffic or security camera footage? Even partial video can clarify the pedestrian’s movements or confirm whether headlights were functioning as intended.
When someone is struck on a highway, it’s rarely as simple as being in the wrong place. What matters most is whether the systems—both human and mechanical—did everything they could to avoid a fatal outcome.
Takeaways:
- Investigators should reconstruct the collision path and conditions in detail.
- A full vehicle inspection may uncover mechanical faults that affected driver response.
- Electronic data and video evidence are crucial for understanding the moment of impact.
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