Potter County, TX — April 12, 2025, a man was injured due to a pedestrian versus car accident at approximately 11:30 p.m. along McMasters Street.

According to authorities, a 35-year-old man was on foot in the vicinity of the McMaster Street and Southwest 3rd Avenue intersection when the accident took place.

Pedestrian Injured in Car Accident on McMasters St. in Amarillo, TX

Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the man was struck by a Nissan Altima that had been traveling southbound on McMasters. The man reportedly sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a pedestrian is struck by a car late at night, the official story often ends with the point of impact. But that alone doesn’t explain why the crash occurred or whether something more than human error contributed. The key is whether investigators are digging deeply enough to uncover the full truth.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?

A pedestrian collision requires careful scene work. Investigators should be looking at the Nissan Altima’s speed, checking for braking or swerving marks, and mapping the exact point of contact relative to the intersection. They should also be determining whether the driver had time to react and whether any evasive action was taken. Too often, crashes like this are treated as simple, with little more than a written report, leaving important details undocumented.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?

When a driver fails to avoid a pedestrian, it’s easy to assume inattention, but mechanical issues may also be at play. Brake failure, steering malfunctions, or problems with electronic driver-assist features could have limited the driver’s ability to respond. With a vehicle like the Altima, electronic stability and braking systems play a key role in emergencies—if those malfunctioned, that matters. Unless the car is inspected thoroughly, those possibilities may never even be considered.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?

The Altima likely has an event data recorder that stores information about speed, throttle, braking, and steering in the seconds before impact. That evidence can reveal whether the driver made any attempt to stop or swerve. Investigators should also be pulling from nearby cameras, GPS history, and potentially phone data to reconstruct what really happened. But digital evidence doesn’t last forever—if it isn’t secured quickly, the chance to use it is gone.

Pedestrian crashes aren’t just about where contact occurred—they’re about why avoidance didn’t happen. Without full investigation, the real reasons risk being lost in the paperwork.


Takeaways:

  • Pedestrian crashes should be reconstructed carefully to measure speed, braking, and driver actions.
  • Mechanical or electronic failures may have limited the driver’s ability to avoid impact.
  • Onboard crash data and external digital evidence are crucial, but only if preserved quickly.

Explore cases we take