SANTA MARIA—Justin Gutierrez, age 29, died Sunday from injuries sustained in an ATV crash the previous night in Santa Maria. The accident happened around 9:11 p.m. Saturday near Bauer Road and FM-2556.
Authorities said Gutierrez was driving the ATV westbound on a dirt road when it went through a T-intersection. The vehicle became airborne over a canal and crashed front-first on the opposite side.
Gutierrez and a passenger, a 27-year-old male, were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Gutierrez succumbed to injuries on Sunday. The passenger remains hospitalized in serious condition.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash.
Justin Gutierrez killed in Santa Maria ATV accident
March 11, 2025
Incident Location
ATV ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
According to Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics, about 568 adults and 144 children die each year in ATV crashes, and many more are injured.
Candice Bond, who is Managing Partner at Bond Legal and national analyst for Accident Injury News, said in cases such as this it’s imperative to have an independent investigation conducted sooner than later to better preserve any evidence.
“In addition to a police report, an attorney will carefully review what may have contributed to the crash,” said Bond.
“Your lawyer has the resources to hire expert witnesses, conduct background checks, locate witnesses to the crash and review applicable insurance coverage. Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help guide an injury victim through what can be a complicated process.”
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
Pending the results of the investigation, the injured victim may be entitled to pursue a personal injury lawsuit.
Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal, said that the stress and worry following a serious injury can be overwhelming, disrupting all aspects of life, including family, work, finances, and overall quality of life.
“It is vital for victims to hire an attorney when filing a personal injury claim, which allows them to negotiate with an insurance company on behalf of a client,” Formica said.
“Insurance companies often try to pressure victims to settle for a quick payout for far less than the case is worth. However, an attorney will vigorously advocate for their clients to ensure that they are treated with respect and compensated fairly.”
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analyst Candice Bond free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Accident Injury News can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-986-7738 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
