Jasper County, TX — September 19, 2024, John Van Andel and James Duke were killed following a car accident at around 11:40 p.m. along Highway 62.
According to initial details about the accident, it happened in the area of TX-62 and County Road 806.
Investigators said that 33-year-old John Van Andel was in a northbound Ford F-150 while 20-year-old James Duke was in a southbound Chevy Traverse. For reasons not confirmed right now, the two vehicles collided head-on. As a result, both Van Andel and Duke were killed. No other injuries were reported.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
With a head-on collision like this, it’s natural that people may jump to all kinds of conclusions. But just because an accident involves typical cars doesn’t mean investigations will be simple. It can surprise people how often police end up missing important details because they lacked the tools, time, or experience to do proper investigations.
Were there any mechanical defects? Did brakes or steering fail? Are there issues with the roadway? Missing signage or lighting? Were there any other vehicles involved that left the scene? Did a driver have a medical condition? Did a tire blow out? Was someone unlawfully over-served by a bar?
Likely or not, I’ve seen these and many other factors cause crashes, and initial investigations alone are rarely enough to catch them. That’s why it’s prudent after any serious accident to understand what authorities are and aren’t investigating. That way, those looking for answers can know if there needs to be independent investigators picking up the slack.
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