Southlake, TX — March 6, 2025, Santiago Rubiano was injured in a motorcycle accident at about 9:35 p.m. on West Dove Road.
A preliminary accident report indicates a motorcycle was headed west when it hit a curb and crashed near West Kirkwood Boulevard.
Motorcyclist Santiago Sogamoso Rubiano, 26, suffered serious injuries in the crash, according to authorities. He was not wearing a helmet at the time.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Tarrant County crash.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Whenever I see a report like the one out of Southlake, where a motorcyclist was seriously injured after hitting a curb, I’m reminded how often single-vehicle crashes get written off as simple rider error. But having handled many cases like this, I know that what seems straightforward on paper often turns out to be far more complex. That’s why it’s so important to ask three critical questions any time a serious crash occurs: Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Starting with the investigation itself, reports say the motorcycle hit a curb and crashed near West Kirkwood Boulevard. That description leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Why did the rider hit the curb? Was he trying to avoid something in the road? Were there issues with the pavement, poor lighting or unclear lane markings? Was he cut off by another vehicle that left the scene? In many cases, the conditions of the roadway — or the actions of others nearby — play a bigger role than people realize. But unless investigators conduct a thorough crash scene analysis, take photographs and gather witness statements, these possibilities may never be explored. And unfortunately, motorcycle crashes are sometimes given less attention than multi-vehicle collisions, especially when the rider survives.
Next, we have to consider whether a defect in the motorcycle could have played a role. Motorcycles are more sensitive to mechanical issues than most other vehicles. Something like a steering misalignment, brake failure or tire defect could be catastrophic, especially at night. Even something as seemingly minor as a suspension issue or unexpected throttle input can cause a rider to lose control. The problem is that unless the motorcycle is preserved and subjected to a detailed forensic examination, there’s no way to know. And once the bike is towed, repaired or disposed of, that opportunity disappears. These are questions that often go unasked unless someone knows to bring in an expert early in the process.
Finally, we have to ask whether any electronic data has been collected. While motorcycles generally don’t have the same kind of engine control modules as passenger vehicles, some newer models do log data related to speed, throttle input and braking. Even if the motorcycle in this crash didn’t have that capability, there are often other sources of useful information, such as helmet cameras, GPS devices, phone records or video from nearby homes or businesses. Any of these could provide important context about what happened in the seconds leading up to the crash. But like all digital evidence, this data is time-sensitive and easily lost if not secured promptly.
At the end of the day, a crash like this demands more than just a surface-level review. When someone suffers serious injuries, the most basic thing we can do as a community is make sure every possible cause has been considered and every relevant piece of data has been collected. That’s how we make sure those affected aren’t left with lingering doubts and that we’re basing our conclusions on facts, not assumptions.
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