Cameron County, TX — July 17, 2024, Larry Welch and one other person were injured in a car accident just before 9:30 a.m. on the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway.
According to authorities, 70-year-old Larry Welch was traveling in a west-facing Ford Pinto on S.H. 100 in the vicinity east of the Garcia Street intersection when the accident took place. The Pinto was apparently disabled in the right-of-two westbound lanes.
Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a westbound Mercedes-Benz SUV occupied by a 65-year-old woman failed to appropriately control its speed. A collision consequently occurred between the front-end of the Mercedes-Benz and the rear-end of the Ford Pinto.
Welch reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. He was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. The woman from the Mercedes-Benz suffered minor injuries, as well, reports state. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a moving vehicle strikes a disabled one on a major route like the Queen Isabella Causeway, there’s often a rush to assign blame. But a collision like this raises more serious questions about how it happened—and whether preventable failures played a role.
Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
A collision with a stopped vehicle in a travel lane should prompt detailed questions about visibility, timing, and driver response. How long had the Pinto been disabled? Were hazard lights activated? Did the Mercedes driver have enough time to change lanes or slow down? Investigators should have reviewed approach angles, available reaction time, and any braking attempts. If that analysis didn’t happen, conclusions about responsibility may be based more on assumptions than facts.
Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
The Pinto’s presence in the roadway raises immediate concerns about mechanical failure. Was it a sudden loss of power, brake failure, or something else entirely? On the Mercedes side, even a well-maintained vehicle could fail to respond if a sensor or brake-assist system malfunctioned. With older vehicles like the Pinto, wear and tear is always a concern—and unless both vehicles were inspected closely, the investigation could be missing key contributing factors.
Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
While the Pinto may not contain detailed crash data, the Mercedes-Benz likely does. That data could show how fast it was traveling, whether the brakes were engaged, and whether any collision warning systems activated. This information could clarify whether the crash was avoidable—or whether the driver never saw the Pinto at all. Additionally, traffic cameras on the causeway or nearby GPS logs could help establish the Pinto’s position and timing prior to impact. If investigators didn’t retrieve that data, their findings may be incomplete.
When a stopped vehicle ends in a serious injury crash, it’s not just about what was hit—it’s about how it was handled, and whether someone missed the chance to prevent it.
Takeaways:
- Investigators must determine how long the Pinto was disabled and whether warnings were visible.
- Mechanical failures in either vehicle could have contributed and should be ruled out with inspection.
- Modern vehicle data and traffic footage can confirm timing, reaction, and system behavior before impact.
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