JMO: I think whatever happened leading up to the accident began in San Marcos. I suspect Jason was suffering from a mental episode that caused disordered thinking vs foul play. MOO.
These kinds of things can be triggered by stress and lack of sleep (exam week recently ended plus perhaps work); not eating well; OTC, prescription and other drug interactions (someone may have offered him adderall to “help with studying,” or perhaps there was an end-of-term party); and other stressors (combined and separate).
If this happened, it may have been the first time he experienced something like this, so it may be that no one would recognize any signs — including him. IME.
He may not have communicated his schedule or packed in any organized manner. Also: I’ve been told by people who have had diagnosed manic episodes that they can experience visual distortions, and I have migraines that can cause vision effects, so it rings true to me. Here’s an article about a study that found distorted visual processing in people with bipolar disorders in manic and depressive states:
Brain Imaging Suggests Visual Processing Is Disrupted in People with Bipolar Disorder
(Note: I’m not saying that he is bipolar, and I haven’t seen that reported. A variety of conditions, including mental-emotional-physical episodes, can cause vision problems).
Speculation only: I can see him having a manic-type episode wherein he decides to drive home but isn’t thinking clearly, so he packs in a nonsensical way, doesn’t let anyone know, and leaves late at night. He knows the route, having driven it before and perhaps is using GPS, but his mind is racing, he may not be seeing well, and he misses the turn.
Then, IMO, he’s in a perfect storm situation — dead of night on an unlit, infrequently trafficked back road, mind racing, perhaps experiencing vision issues in an already difficult-to-see area. He doesn’t think to stop and turn around; maybe GPS suggests an alternative route. Maybe someone comes up behind him, then passes him. Maybe he swerves to avoid something, maybe he hits the gravel road section and skids a bit, maybe he literally isn’t seeing the road clearly anymore, and crashes.
Speculation: He’s shaken up, now perhaps injured, already panicking, and he flees from the scene without even looking for his phone or wallet first — or maybe he pulls things willy-nilly from his car but can’t find his phone. He may hide from anyone who sees the car and stops, especially if any bright police-type lights are used.
Whatever happened, my heart goes out to him and his family. MOO.
