Cristian Ruiz Injured in Single-Vehicle Accident on US-90 in Val Verde County, TX
Val Verde County, TX — December 3, 2022, 29-year-old Cristian Ruiz was seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 90 in Val Verde County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 1:10 a.m. on US-90 at State Loop 79. Preliminary investigation suggests Ruiz was driving a Toyota Tacoma pickup east on the highway when he lost control for unconfirmed reasons. The pickup veered out of its lane and through the Loop 79 intersection, then crashed into a traffic light pole.
Ruiz suffered serious injuries in the crash.
No further information is currently available.
Over my career I've seen countless single-vehicle accidents that were out of the driver's hands for one reason or another. However, after many of those same accidents many folks quickly decided the driver was to blame because no other vehicles were involved. Police even seem to lean that direction sometimes, as many of their first impressions involve driver mistakes like speeding or impairment—the latter of which was suggested after the US-90 crash above.
Maybe investigators found clear evidence to make them say the driver was drinking, or maybe the general circumstances of the accident just made them draw that conclusion. Either way, while blood tests are conducted they certainly shouldn't put all their eggs in one basket. What if the driver just lost control because his pickup malfunctioned? How many people were unfairly blamed for their accidents before the GM ignition switch recall, only for investigators to later find that a bad part in their cars was the real culprit?
I don't know more than reports say about this crash. Could it have a simple explanation like impairment? Maybe, and if so there may be further concerns to address about where the drinks came from that night. Could there also be more to the story, though? Absolutely. That's why it's crucial to investigate carefully and account for all the possibilities. I just hope authorities put that into practice and get some real answers for the people who need them.
