Rita Ilgen Killed in Car Accident on Kuykendahl Rd in Harris County, TX
UPDATE (December 21, 2022): Sources have identified the person who died in this accident as 57-year-old Rita Ilgen.
Spring, TX — November 25, 2022, one person died in an auto accident on Kuykendahl Road in Harris County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 6:20 p.m. on the 4000 block of Kuykendahl near London Way. Preliminary investigation suggests a Cadillac SRX was headed north on the roadway as a Cadillac STS was pulling into the road from a private drive. Investigators say the STS driver failed to yield while entering the roadway and it was hit on its driver's side by the SRX.
The STS driver was fatally injured in the crash.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Rita Ilgen Accident in Harris County
I have no specific reason to question what police say happened here, but I've seen enough "by the book" investigations miss important details to wonder if there's more to the story. Things may be as simple as an unfortunate failure to yield and the tragedy that followed, but many other possible factors--from driver mistakes to vehicle failures or defects to poor road and weather conditions--must also be evaluated.
Once they found an explanation they were satisfied with, though, I wonder if police took extra time and care to look at any of those other potential issues. Little as I like saying this, I doubt it. A standard police investigation doesn't always touch all the bases before reaching conclusions and moving on, so if there's any lingering confusion or doubt (it happens more often than some might think) then having independent professionals take another look might be beneficial. At the very least the victim's loved ones deserve to know that no stone was left unturned.
