Waco, TX — May 8, 2025, Shelia Thompson was injured following a car accident that happened at around 4:35 p.m. along Interstate 35.
Preliminary information from authorities says the crash happened at the intersection of I-35 and Waco Drive/US 84.
Officials said that 63-year-old Shelia Thompson was in a Toyota 4Runner traveling eastbound through the intersection. A Ford F-150 was going northbound. The vehicles crossed paths and collided, following which a chain-reaction crash occurred.
Due to the crash, Shelia Thompson reportedly had serious injuries. No other injuries were reported. At this time, additional details are unavailable.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Something that doesn’t often get the attention it deserves is what can happen to investigations when one person is seriously injured. Sometimes, authorities aren’t thorough enough, and they don’t ever follow up to get that person’s side of the story. People may naturally worry, then, that the facts won’t be told fairly. There are key questions, though, that can help people gauge if the investigations are being handled properly.
1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Not all investigations are created equal. Some crash scenes are processed quickly due to limited time or resources, which can lead to missed details. A proper investigation should include reconstructing the vehicle’s path, checking for signs of driver behavior before impact, and using physical evidence to support any conclusions. When that doesn’t happen, important facts are left behind.
2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
A sudden loss of control or unexpected behavior from a vehicle often points to something mechanical—whether it’s brake failure, steering malfunction, or a problem with stability systems. Even when a crash seems straightforward, safety features like airbags or seatbelts must also be inspected to ensure they worked as intended. A missed defect can mean a missed opportunity to prevent future harm.
3. Has all the electronic data, cell phone records, and nearby camera footage been collected?
Vehicles today store critical information about how they were being driven—speed, braking, steering inputs, and more. Phone records and nearby surveillance or traffic cameras can also help fill in the gaps. Without this data, the understanding of what happened often relies on assumption rather than fact.
If authorities have satisfactory answers to these questions, then they’ve likely conducted good, thorough investigations. If they come up short, though, then it’s possible more thorough independent investigations will reveal new details.
Takeaways:
- Thorough investigations require time, tools, and follow-through—not assumptions.
- Mechanical and safety system failures must be considered and ruled out.
- Digital evidence and nearby footage often tell the part of the story the scene alone can’t.
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