On Sunday evening, a fatal rollover crash occurred along Interstate 20 near mile marker 162 in Martin County. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche was traveling westbound when the vehicle reportedly experienced a blowout of its left rear tire. The driver lost control, and the vehicle veered off the roadway, rolling several times before coming to rest. Three individuals were in the vehicle at the time. The driver and front passenger sustained minor injuries, while 54-year-old Rose Marie Dominguez, who was seated in the left rear seat and wearing a seatbelt, was transported to the hospital and later died from her injuries.
While this may seem like an unexplainable accident at first, a tire failure changes the scope of the investigation significantly. When a blowout is the initiating event, it's important to examine whether a defect with the tire itself played a role in causing the crash.
Was the Tire Defective?
One of the key questions in this case is whether the tire that failed did so due to improper maintenance, damage from road debris, or an inherent defect in the product itself. In cases where the tire was relatively new, had no visible damage, and was properly inflated, a manufacturing or design defect may be at issue. Investigators will need to preserve the tire and analyze it for signs of tread separation, sidewall failure, or structural weakness. If a defect is identified, it could potentially give rise to a product liability claim against the tire manufacturer.
What Evidence Will Be Critical to Review?
To understand whether product defects contributed to this crash, the damaged tire should be carefully preserved for forensic examination. Investigators may also review maintenance records, tire age, and purchase history to determine whether the tire had any known issues. Crash scene evidence such as yaw marks, vehicle trajectory, and rollover sequence can also help clarify how the tire failure led to the vehicle leaving the roadway.
Why Product Liability Should Be Considered
When a tire blowout results in a fatal crash, it’s not enough to assume that the incident was unavoidable. In my experience, tire defects are often overlooked unless someone asks the right questions early in the investigation. A thorough review of the tire’s condition and the vehicle’s behavior during the rollover may help determine whether a defective product played a role in this accident.