Paytum Morgan Killed in Single-Vehicle Accident into Concho River in San Angelo, TX
UPDATE (January 26, 2022): Reports identified the driver killed in the accident as 19-year-old Paytum Morgan. Right now, the cause of the crash remains unclear.
San Angelo, TX -- January 24, 2022, a driver sustained fatal injuries due to an accident where a car crashed off Veteran's Memorial into the Concho River.
Initial reports from the San Angelo Police indicated that the crash happened just before 10:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Veteran's Memorial Drive. For reasons unclear, a 2008 Dodge Avenger ran off the side of the road and crashed into the Concho River.
The vehicle became submerged in the river, and rescue teams could not reach the driver in time. That person, currently unidentified, was pronounced deceased the morning of January 25. Police continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
Commentary on Single-Vehicle Accident on Veteran's Memorial in San Angelo
With late night single-vehicle wrecks, it's easy for folks to jump to conclusions. Part of the reason for that, quite frankly, is that these accidents are usually the result of driver error. Speeding, distracted driving, and alcohol are all common. I certainly wouldn't suggest ignoring those possibilities. The problem, however, is that even the authorities can get tunnel vision and focus solely on these possibilities. What about less common factors?
Mechanical issues, tire failures, road hazards, defective road design, medical emergencies, other drivers that left the scene--these aren't all that common, but shouldn't investigators look into every possibility? Even if something seems unlikely, allowing something to slip through the cracks simply isn't acceptable. There's a family out there that deserves some answers. If authorities aren't taking the steps to consider all possible factors here--common or not--then the crash would likely be better off in the hands of professionals who will leave no stone unturned.
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