Michael Jenkins Dies in Baytown, TX Car Accident
Baytown, TX — June 17, 2022, 31-year-old Michael Jenkins died after another driver ran a red light and hit his car in Baytown.
Preliminary reports contain few specifics about the accident, but say Jenkins was driving home to eat lunch with his family in the Bear Creek area when his vehicle was hit by another car that ran an intersection's red light. The time and specific location of the collision were not provided in early reports.
Jenkins died of his injuries while being airlifted to an area hospital.
The investigation continues. No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Michael Jenkins Accident in Baytown
Clearly this accident is tragic, and it breaks my heart to know that a family man was taken away from his loved ones. Hopefully investigators are hard at work answering many lingering questions about the crash that claimed his life, and among those is why the other driver ran a red light.
Some may be content to ignore the "why" of the situation and simply throw the book at the striking driver. I understand the frustration that a situation like this creates and the desire to have a clear "bad guy," but reading that someone ran a light doesn't explain their motive for doing so. Were they awake and alert? Were they watching the road or distracted by something else? Was their light steadily red or changing from yellow? Did the lights at that intersection work properly? Did the car's brakes fail? Did the driver have any health problems that made them lose control?
None of those questions are meant to complicate things or suggest this can't boil down to a simple but tragic issue of momentary carelessness. It's generally just best for all affected to know the whole story. Sometimes it only grants closure, but others it's found that further action is warranted. Knowing which one first depends on a full investigation being conducted. In the meantime it's best to focus on how best to help a grieving family in their time of need.
