Jose Cortez Injured in Single-Vehicle Accident on East Freeway in Arlington, TX
Arlington, TX — December 4, 2022, 33-year-old Jose Cortez was seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident on the East Freeway in Arlington.
Authorities say the incident happened around 3:30 a.m. on the freeway (Interstate 10) near Ballpark Way. Preliminary investigation suggests Cortez was driving a Nissan Sentra east on the highway when he may have lost control and veered into the right concrete barrier. The car reportedly rebounded from the impact and came to rest in the middle of the roadway.
Cortez was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Police allegedly suspected him of driving under the influence and collected blood samples for testing.
No further information is currently available.
One thing I've learned over the years is that people tend to quickly jump to certain conclusions about the cause or circumstances of a single-vehicle accident like this one. Reading that a car hit a wall in the wee hours of the morning may be enough for them to decide this was a matter of distraction, falling asleep at the wheel, or--as police seem to suspect--intoxication.
I don't have any specific reason to think investigators are wrong about that, but at the same time it's worth remembering that suspicions aren't the same as facts. A lot of things can send a car off-course, and nowhere near all of them are within a driver's control. If blood tests confirm alcohol was a factor on the East Freeway then there may be other implications to that, but until those results are in it's best to investigate other explanations and keep an open mind.
