Elder Piñeda Jr. Injured in Car Accident on Canal Street in Houston, TX
Houston, TX — December 4, 2022, 32-year-old Elder Piñeda Jr. was seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident on Canal Street in Houston.
Authorities say the incident happened around 1:45 a.m. on Canal Street near South 74th Street. Preliminary investigation suggests Piñeda was driving a Nissan Altima east on Canal, allegedly at high speeds, when he lost control for unconfirmed reasons. The car ran off the road to the north and crashed into a concrete barrier.
Piñeda was seriously injured in the wreck and was transported to an area hospital. Investigators alleged he was under the influence of alcohol and collected blood samples for testing.
No further information is currently available.
I often have to stress to people who read these reports that suspicion isn't the same as confirmation. Police may have found reasons to think the victim was intoxicated, or they may just have guessed based on the general circumstances of his crash, but either way only clear proof should have the final say. Until test results can clarify things, it's best to reserve judgment and keep an open mind. A lot of things can send a car off the road, and many of them--medical emergencies, vehicle malfunctions, blown tires, swerving to avoid an animal or vehicle--are largely beyond a driver's control.
To be clear, I'm not saying I know more than what was reported or claiming that alcohol can't possibly be a factor. I just always fight back against the idea that anything can be taken for granted based on the vague impressions put together at a crash scene. If the victim was intoxicated that could mean there's more to investigate, but he deserves the benefit of the doubt and to know that his accident was thoroughly investigated.
