San Marcos, TX — October 19, 2025, one person was killed and Piper Pearen was injured in a multi-vehicle accident at about 7:30 p.m. on Interstate 35.
A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2023 Subaru Forester crashed into a 2018 BMW X1 south of exit 208. The impact caused a chain reaction that damaged two other SUVs.
An 86-year-old woman riding in the BMW died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to the report. Another passenger, 46-year-old Piper Pearen, was seriously injured.
The Subaru and BMW drivers suffered minor injuries, the report states, while the four people in the other SUVs were not hurt.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Hays County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Mike Grossman
When a serious highway crash leaves behind devastating consequences, it’s natural to wonder whether everything that could’ve prevented it was done: before, during and after the incident. These moments raise questions that go beyond the surface and press us to look more closely at the unseen layers of responsibility.
Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Any time multiple vehicles are involved and injuries vary in severity, there’s a heightened need for thorough analysis. It’s not enough to just document the scene. The question is whether investigators went deeper: reconstructing vehicle paths, reviewing possible driver distraction or checking speed at the moment of impact. In some cases, agencies lack the specialized training to unravel chain-reaction crashes, especially on busy interstates. If only basic measurements were taken and no advanced tools like laser mapping were used, there’s a risk that key dynamics of the crash may go unrecognized.
Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? When a newer vehicle initiates a collision, it’s worth asking whether a malfunction played a role. Modern cars come packed with driver-assist tech and sensors, but those systems can fail, or worse, mislead drivers. Was the Subaru’s braking system or collision avoidance tech reviewed for glitches? Was there any issue with the BMW’s response capabilities, especially considering the age of its occupants? Unless these vehicles were inspected with a mechanical lens, that angle might be missing from the picture entirely.
Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Today’s vehicles record more than just speed. They can log pedal pressure, steering input and even warning alerts. Phones and GPS units can also confirm what drivers were doing right before impact. But unless someone accessed those systems and preserved that data quickly, the window to get real answers might be closing. In crashes like this, especially where the severity varied so widely, the digital trail might tell a different story than the scene alone suggests.
Asking better questions after a crash isn’t just about finding blame. It’s about making sure preventable tragedies don’t repeat. When critical details are overlooked or assumed, the truth can slip through the cracks.
Plain-language takeaways:
- Crash investigations should go deeper than just writing a report. Reconstruction tools and driver behavior checks matter.
- Mechanical issues can cause sudden loss of control, even in newer vehicles. Inspections are key.
- Vehicle and phone data might hold the truth about what really happened, but only if it’s collected in time.
call us 
Email Us 
Text us