San Antonio, TX — December 24, 2024, Katherine Bada was injured in a car accident at about 9 a.m. on Old Tezel Road.
A preliminary accident report indicates a 2020 Volkswagen Jetta collided with a Hyundai Santa Fe near the intersection with Tezel Road. The Volkswagen did not stop after the crash.
Hyundai driver Katherine Bada, 22, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.
The driver of the Volkswagen was charged with failing to stop and render aid, the report states.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Bexar County crash.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When someone is seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash, as occurred on Old Tezel Road, the focus often centers on locating and charging the fleeing driver. While that step is important, it’s equally critical to examine the broader circumstances that led to the collision. In every serious crash, especially one involving criminal charges, three key questions must be asked: Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Has anyone considered whether a vehicle defect played a role? And has all relevant electronic data been collected and preserved?
Even though the Volkswagen driver has been charged with failing to stop and render aid, the cause of the collision itself still deserves full scrutiny. A proper investigation should determine how the vehicles collided. Was one making a turn? Did one driver run a signal or stop sign? Were there visibility issues or unexpected maneuvers? Understanding who had the right of way and how the crash unfolded is vital, especially when someone sustained serious injuries. This requires more than witness statements. It involves a full reconstruction of the crash, including impact analysis and road conditions.
The second issue is often overlooked in hit-and-run cases: could a mechanical or electronic defect have contributed to the collision? The Hyundai Santa Fe, depending on its model year, may have been equipped with safety systems such as automatic emergency braking or lane-keeping assist. If those systems failed to activate or didn’t respond correctly, that could be a contributing factor to the severity of the crash or the lack of avoidance. Similarly, if the Volkswagen had any issue with its brakes, steering or electronic controls, that might explain erratic behavior before the driver fled. But these questions can only be answered through prompt preservation and inspection of both vehicles, something that doesn’t always happen unless someone demands it.
The third critical piece is the electronic data stored in both vehicles. The Hyundai and the Volkswagen are both modern vehicles likely equipped with engine control modules that record vehicle speed, throttle position, braking input and steering angle leading up to the crash. That data can help reconstruct the moments before impact and determine whether either vehicle attempted to avoid the crash or if a system failed to respond. Additionally, if either vehicle had a dashcam, or if nearby surveillance cameras captured the collision, that footage could provide invaluable visual confirmation of events.
When someone is seriously injured in a hit-and-run, the immediate need is accountability, but just as important is the need to understand how the crash happened. The only way to do that is by preserving evidence, inspecting both vehicles for defects and collecting every available piece of electronic data. That kind of thorough investigation provides much-needed answers for the victim and her family.
call us 
Email Us 
Text us