Julian Hernandez Killed in Single-Vehicle Accident on Idalou Road in Lubbock, TX
Lubbock, TX -- January 16, 2022, 27-year-old Julian Hernandez was killed in a single-vehicle accident on Idalou Road in Lubbock.
Authorities say the incident was reported around 7:40 a.m. and occurred on the 4400 block of Idalou Road near Redwood Avenue. Preliminary investigation suggests Hernandez was driving a Nissan Titan pickup truck northeast along the roadway when he left it for unknown reasons and hit utility pole followed by a fence.
Hernandez was ejected during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later located surveillance footage indicating the crash happened around 3:55 a.m.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Julian Hernandez Accident on Idalou Rd in Lubbock
To be clear, I don't have any information about this crash beyond what's relayed in these early reports. If I or anyone else jumped to conclusions based on just those limited details it would be outright irresponsible. However, after 30 years of experience I have learned to recognize certain red flags after wrecks like this one. Understanding what those flags can mean for victims and families is important.
For instance, when folks see a young man crashing on a Sunday morning (which sometimes translates to "very late Saturday night" in a college town) many are likely to jump straight to blaming alcohol for the accident. That of course would still need clear proof before such theories could be considered facts, but I suspect police will look carefully into that possibility.
The drivers involved in those crashes and their families call the firm all the time wondering what they should do. Sometimes after helping them weigh their options it's found there's little else to do but have them take responsibility for their actions, but other times it's found that a local bar illegally over-served them and may be liable for the damage done under dram shop. I can't say whether this is necessarily one of those times, but it seems worth investigating that possibility more carefully here.
That said, just because impairment seems plausible doesn't mean investigators can forego looking into other possibilities as well. Despite what some may think, drivers are not automatically responsible for single-vehicle wrecks. What if the Nissan had a tire blowout or a mechanical issue? What if there was some other reckless driver that left the scene not mentioned in the reports? What if there is something wrong with this particular stretch of road due to poor design or a lack of lighting and signage?
Jumping to conclusions isn't going to get folks the help or the answers they deserve. That's why it's best to make sure independent investigators look into serious wrecks like this and to wait for them to ensure all the facts are clear.
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