Dewayne Dillon Injured in Car Accident in Arlington, TX

Tarrant County, TX — December 22, 2024, Dewayne Dillon was injured in a car accident at approximately 1:15 a.m. along Carswell Terrace.

According to authorities, 55-year-old Dewayne Dillon and a 63-year-old woman were traveling in a Jeep Commander on Carswell Terrace in the vicinity west of the Collins Street intersection when the accident took place.

The cause of the accident remains unclear. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a collision took place between the Jeep and a vacant Ram 1500 pickup truck. Details as to how the accident occurred are scarce. Reports state that, somehow, Dillon exited the vehicle and was struck by the Jeep, which may have been in reverse at the time of the accident. He reportedly suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident. Additional information pertaining to this incident is not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash results in a vehicle occupant exiting and then being struck by their own vehicle, it’s clear that something highly unusual occurred. But in my experience, particularly with incidents like this one on Carswell Terrace, the more unusual the event, the more essential it is to look deeper than the surface. To understand how this sequence of events unfolded—and whether it could have been avoided—there are three critical questions that should be asked.

First, did the authorities conduct a thorough investigation? The details reported so far leave many unanswered questions: What caused the Jeep to collide with the parked Ram 1500 in the first place? Why was someone exiting the vehicle in the middle of the event? And what role did the vehicle’s position—possibly being in reverse—play in Dillon being struck? Investigators should carefully reconstruct the sequence of impacts, the timing of vehicle movements, and whether all occupants were seated and belted at the time. If these basic facts weren’t thoroughly gathered, a more detailed, independent reconstruction may be necessary.

Second, has anyone looked into whether a mechanical or design issue contributed to what happened? If the Jeep moved unexpectedly while in reverse, that could point to a transmission failure, gear selector confusion, or a malfunction in the parking brake system. Jeep vehicles, like many modern SUVs, often include electronic gear selectors that can cause confusion about whether the vehicle is properly in park. Identifying such a defect would require a forensic inspection of the vehicle—something that can only happen if it’s preserved and not quickly released or repaired.

Lastly, has all available electronic data been collected from the Jeep? Modern vehicles often store key pre-crash information, such as gear position, brake usage, throttle input, and seatbelt status. This data can help confirm whether the vehicle was in gear or park at the time, whether the brakes were applied, and whether any warnings were issued to the driver. If there is video footage from nearby security cameras or dashcams, that could provide vital context as well. As always, this data is time-sensitive and must be secured quickly.

When a crash results in such an unusual and serious outcome, it’s not enough to rely on limited initial reports or assumptions. Asking these questions is the least that can be done to ensure that those affected by this crash get the clarity and closure they deserve.