Stalled Car Causes Accident That Hospitalizes 3 Children

According to a KSAT News report, three children were taken to the hospital after an accident on the Northwest Side of San Antonio on I-10 on Thanksgiving evening.

Fire officials reported the incident occurred at around 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, November 23, 2023, on Interstate 10 at Crossroads Boulevard. According to their report, a woman was traveling westbound on I-10 when she crashed into the back of a stalled vehicle on the Interstate. It was not reported if anyone was in the vehicle at the time. Her three children were taken to the hospital in unknown condition, and their ages were not reported. It is not clear if any other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Did You Know?

Texas leads the nation in stalled vehicle accident deaths.

What to Do When Your Vehicle Stalls in San Antonio

Do you pull over or slow down when you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road?

When the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety asked drivers this same question, most responded that they did 100% of the time. However, younger drivers (ages 16-18) responded with greater frequency than any other age group that they don’t follow that rule all of the time and that they don’t believe it puts officers or other vehicles in any danger.

But it is dangerous, and far too many people die as a result of violating this rule. Texas leads the nation in stalled vehicle accidents. No one wants to get stuck in the middle of a busy highway, but it happens. So, how do you keep yourself and other drivers as safe as possible when your vehicle stalls? Let’s take a look.

Expert Tips for When Your Engine Quits

When your engine stalls, you will have far less control over steering and brakes. You need more than normal following distance when this happens to compensate for the fact that you will need to turn the wheel and press the brake harder.

Additionally, airbags could malfunction, depending on why the vehicle stalls.

So, the most important thing you can do to keep yourself safe in a stalling situation is to make sure you always leave at least 3 seconds of following distance, or 5 seconds if conditions are poor, whenever you are driving.

First Steps:

Make sure you don’t panic — stay calm, even if you’re on a busy interstate. As soon as your engine stalls, follow these steps:

• Turn on your hazard lights ASAP — locate your hazard light location before your next road trip, and check to make sure they are in working order.
• Put your vehicle in neutral — this will allow you to coast safely out of the way.
• Pull off to the shoulder and park — if you’re able to, get out of the lane ASAP and park as far away from traffic as possible.
• Call roadside assistance — Once you’re safe, contact roadside assistance for help on next steps.

If You’re Stuck in a Lane:

If you can’t make it to the shoulder, stay inside your vehicle. People are far more likely to be hit after exiting their vehicle. Then, call 911 before calling roadside assistance for help in getting your vehicle to safety.

Injured in a Stalled Vehicle? Call Carabin Shaw

People don’t always follow their duty to keep you safe. If you’re hurt in a stalled vehicle accident in San Antonio, call the firm that puts their clients first at 800-862-1260 to get your case evaluated. We look forward to serving you.

Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.

¹KSAT News report

²AAA Data