Texas Accident & Injury News
Teens and younger children are more prone to serious injuries in pedestrian accidents.
Pieper High School Hit-and-Run Leaves Teen Injured, Driver Arrested
According to a report from News4SanAntonio, a driver has been arrested after allegedly hitting a teenager with his truck and fleeing the scene last week.
Police say the incident happened at around 9 a.m. Thursday, May 12th, in the parking lot of Pieper High School.
The victim’s mother said her son and a group of approximately 10 boys were passing out donuts before school near their vehicles when an adult male in a “very large truck” drove up to the group, honked, and then accelerated through them.
The impact reportedly knocked the teenager out of one of his shoes and ran over his foot. According to his mother, he suffered a swollen foot and severe tire rash to the backs of his legs.
On Tuesday, May 12th, jail records showed that 53-year-old Joe Louis Ash was booked on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to a Bexar County Constable Precinct 3 report, surveillance footage showed the man dropping off a student before driving behind the group of boys, honking, and then accelerating through them moments later.
Several witnesses were present at the time of the incident. Authorities arrested Ash without incident and booked him into the Bexar County Jail.
Did You Know?
1,518 crashes across Texas in 2024 were caused by drivers failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians, according to TxDOT data.
What Parents Should Know About Pedestrian Accidents in School Parking Lots
Most people think of school parking lots as relatively safe because vehicles move at lower speeds. But in reality, these areas are full of pedestrians, limited visibility, and distracted drivers.
Students walk between parked vehicles, gather near traffic lanes, and move through crowded drop-off areas while drivers attempt to park, turn around, or leave quickly before school starts.
When impatience, distraction, or aggressive behavior enters the situation, teens are put in critical danger.
Why Teen Pedestrians Face Higher Risk
Teenagers spend more time walking near traffic than many adults. Before and after school, students often cross parking lots, stand near vehicles, or move between rows of cars where drivers may not immediately see them.
At the same time, many drivers are:
- Rushing through drop-off traffic
- Distracted by phones or passengers
- Driving oversized trucks or SUVs with larger blind spots
- Frustrated by congestion or delays
- Or in a hurry to get to their next destination.
Larger vehicles like pickup trucks create additional danger because they require more distance to stop and can cause severe injuries even at relatively low speeds.
Reckless Driving in Parking Lots Is Extremely Dangerous
Some drivers assume parking lots are informal spaces where normal traffic rules matter less. The opposite is true.
Drivers still have a legal duty to operate their vehicles safely around pedestrians, and it’s especially important in crowded, pedestrian-heavy areas like parking lots. Accelerating through crowded areas, driving aggressively, or ignoring people nearby can quickly become dangerous or even criminal behavior.
Even at low speeds, pedestrians can suffer:
- Crush injuries
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Severe road rash or soft tissue damage
When a vehicle strikes someone directly, the outcome can change a family’s life instantly.
What Happens If a Driver Leaves the Scene?
Leaving the scene after hitting a pedestrian is a serious offense under Texas law.
In cases like this, investigators often rely heavily on:
- Surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Vehicle damage evidence
- School or nearby security cameras
Criminal charges and civil injury claims are also separate matters. Even if a driver is arrested, injured victims may still need to pursue a separate claim to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and long-term recovery costs.
What Parents Should Do After a Pedestrian Accident
When a child is hit by a vehicle, parents are often focused entirely on immediate injuries. But the days following the accident are important too.
Some injuries worsen over time, especially soft tissue injuries, joint damage, or crush-related trauma involving the legs or feet.
Parents should:
- Seek immediate and follow-up medical care
- Photograph injuries and recovery progress
- Request copies of surveillance footage if available
- Keep records of medical treatment and missed activities
- Speak with a lawyer before accepting an insurance settlement
Insurance companies often try to resolve injury claims quickly, sometimes before the full extent of the injuries is known leaving families without options when further complications arise.
Was Your Teen Injured in a Pedestrian Accident? Call Shaw.
If your child was injured after being hit by a vehicle anywhere in San Antonio, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills and ongoing treatment
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Future rehabilitation or recovery costs
- Missed Work
- And More
At Carabin Shaw, we’ll help you find out for free.
Don’t assume the insurance company will automatically cover everything your child needs. Call Shaw today at 800-862-1260 to talk to an expert pedestrian injury attorney in San Antonio about your legal options.
There are no fees, no obligations, and no pressure—just experienced legal guidance when you need it most.
We look forward to serving you.
See Also:
Pedestrian Accident at Raba Elementary Kills 66-Year-Old Staff Member
Published April 23rd, 2026