Freddy Gomez-Hernandez Killed in Car Accident in Midland County, TX
Midland County, TX -- March 9, 2023, Freddy Gomez-Hernandez was killed after an accident where a car crashed off the roadway.
Investigators said that the incident happened along County Road 1040 east of Midland city limits. It appears that 19-year-old Freddy Gomez-Hernandez was in a vehicle rounding a curve in the road when the vehicle ran off-road. Doing so, the vehicle overturned repeatedly.
Gomez-Hernandez sustained fatal injuries in the crash. No one else was said to be involved. At this time, additional details can't be confirmed.
In some news stories, I've seen speculation that unsafe speeds may have led to this crash. I always take that sort of detail with a grain of salt. Years of doing this job makes it clear there are countless reasons a car can lose control. Brake failure, tire blowouts, medical conditions, road hazards, hit and runs, etc. Just because a preliminary news report says something happened, it's important to remember that doesn't mean much without clear evidence to back it up, and we in the public likely aren't seeing the full picture here.
As agreeable as people may be to that, though, their prudence often falls short when the victim is a teenager. When people see a teenager behind the wheel, they're unfortunately quick to believe anything that suggests they were being reckless. It is true that teens are statistically more likely to cause a crash. But this young man wasn't a statistic. He was someone's kid, and I know good and well I would want to know I was getting all the facts in the unthinkable event something happened to my child.
I can only hope authorities handling this incident agree, avoid jumping to conclusions, and take the necessary steps to get the victim's loved ones the answers they deserve.
[jump]
