Felix Gomez II Killed in Single-Vehicle Accident on I-10 in Baytown, TX
Baytown, TX — October 13, 2022, 28-year-old Felix Gomez II died in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 in Harris County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 11:30 p.m. on I-10 near Sjolander Road. Preliminary investigation suggests Gomez was driving a Dodge Dart east on the highway when he exited toward Sjolander. The Dodge allegedly hit the crash barrier on the gore between the travel lanes and the ramp, then side-skidded a short distance down the ramp and overturned.
Gomez was fatally injured in the accident. Investigators believed he might have been under the influence of intoxicant.
No further information is currently available.
One might think that the sad aftermath of this accident would be more than enough reason for the press to give it more coverage, but that didn't really happen. Why not? Well, I think I know the answer—and it's an unfortunate reflection on how most people, even reporters, see a single-vehicle accident and quickly assume that only the driver is to blame.
That prematurely dismisses all the other possible factors of such a wreck, and there are plenty: Mechanical defects in the car, being run off the road by another vehicle that left the scene, a negligent bar or other alcohol vendor over-serving the driver before he crashed, and many other issues play roles in similar crashes every day, yet in too many cases they're overlooked or ignored.
At the end of the day a man lost his life here, and I think most would agree his loved ones deserve to know everything possible about how and why that happened. I just hope authorities will take the time and care needed to learn the whole story in Baytown.
