TX TX - Jason Landry, 21, enroute from TSU to home, car found crashed at Luling, 14 Dec 2020 #2

[JrTex]

It is listed as “in the roadway” on the newest poster from the Sheriff’s department. To me that means in the middle of the road. Otherwise I think it would say “on the side of the road” or “in the ditch”. Anytime I’ve heard something is “in the road”, it’s been smack dab in the middle, not off to the side where it doesn’t interfere. MOO

The "roadway" is a term Texas Peace Officers will use frequently in crash/traffic reports. The roadway is any part that is maintained for travel. So in other words, if they say the vehicle was blocking the roadway or found in the roadway, that means it is on the improved area. If it is located in/on the roadway and inoperative/wrecked, it can lawfully be towed. Technically, if the vehicle was found in the ditch and the ditch wasn't private property, they would NOT be able to immediately tow it. The use of the word roadway is in the transportation code and one can say with almost certainty the vehicle was literally in/in the road when they found it and hence the reason it was towed

 

[JrTex]

Around my area - LE quit using Slim Jims.
Liability of car damage. Tow operators and mobile locksmiths got mad because it was cutting into their business. Slim Jim’s could be used fairly easy on older cars. You can screw up the weather strip/rubber piece around the window if you’re not careful.
JMO

The tow report completed by DPS states the vehicle was not inventoried because it was locked. I'm pretty sure this is a discretionary matter. I've towed MANY vehicles and in general, officers don't go into locked vehicles to search when they are abandoned. However, that is not the same as saying it is prohibited. In the case of an actual IMPOUND as a result of an arrest, the officer will probably conduct an inventory. In this case, there was no evidence to indicate it was anything other than an abandoned wrecked out car which, as I've said many times, happens way more than most people realize and has probably happened somewhere in Texas in the 5 minutes it took to type this.

 

[Seattle1]

The "roadway" is a term Texas Peace Officers will use frequently in crash/traffic reports. The roadway is any part that is maintained for travel. So in other words, if they say the vehicle was blocking the roadway or found in the roadway, that means it is on the improved area. If it is located in/on the roadway and inoperative/wrecked, it can lawfully be towed. Technically, if the vehicle was found in the ditch and the ditch wasn't private property, they would NOT be able to immediately tow it. The use of the word roadway is in the transportation code and one can say with almost certainty the vehicle was literally in/in the road when they found it and hence the reason it was towed

I believe the first report I read referred to the vehicle found crashed in a ditch. I'm familiar with these roads and to me, that would mean the ditch between the shoulder and the improved roadway. I think this corroborates CCSO's later statement that the crashed, abandoned, vehicle did not raise any alarms initially -- their assumption was the owner would most likely return in the daylight hours to collect the vehicle. In other words, I don't recall that the abandoned vehicle was impeding traffic on the road, and towed immediately from the scene. MOO

 

[ForensicToxicologist]

The "roadway" is a term Texas Peace Officers will use frequently in crash/traffic reports. The roadway is any part that is maintained for travel. So in other words, if they say the vehicle was blocking the roadway or found in the roadway, that means it is on the improved area. If it is located in/on the roadway and inoperative/wrecked, it can lawfully be towed. Technically, if the vehicle was found in the ditch and the ditch wasn't private property, they would NOT be able to immediately tow it. The use of the word roadway is in the transportation code and one can say with almost certainty the vehicle was literally in/in the road when they found it and hence the reason it was towed

Fully agreed with you. Just to clarify, my post that was quoted was in response to the backpack and belongings being labeled as “in the roadway”, not the vehicle. There was debate among some as to whether they were actually in the road or on the side like someone walking alongside the ditch/road would leave. IMO the wording by DPS/sheriff indicate they were actually in the drivable portion of the road. Also IMO it makes a difference in this case because dropped alongside the road while walking vs in the middle of the street could lend to different theories and reasons as one is far more odd than the other given the 900 ft distance from the car. MSM reports have stated the car was found along a tree and fence line.

 

[Seattle1]

Texas State student from Missouri City missing after car found totaled, abandoned

Dec 14, 2020

[..]

The Landry family moved to Missouri City a little over a decade ago. Jason, the youngest of three siblings, is in his third year at Texas State.
_________________

The video news report at link above clearly states the vehicle spun and hit a tree, trunk first. This best explains the vehicle's visible, rear damage. This info only available in the video -- not the print news.

 

[cujenn81]

I'm confused by reports that LE was limited by the car doors being locked. Wasn't the rear window smashed and essentially gone? Even if they didn't want someone to climb in (possibly obscuring evidence) wouldn't they be able to reach in from there with some kind of device to unlock the doors?

That also makes me wonder what the law says on matters such as this one. Would LE need a warrant to search the car or is the wrecked car considered probable cause in and of itself?

 

[Gemmie]

It is hard to get car to spin around (I think I read that?) and be in control of the outcome, imo.

Likely not unless you're a stunt driver.

 

[mlhenn]

I believe the first report I read referred to the vehicle found crashed in a ditch. I'm familiar with these roads and to me, that would mean the ditch between the shoulder and the improved roadway. I think this corroborates CCSO's later statement that the crashed, abandoned, vehicle did not raise any alarms initially -- their assumption was the owner would most likely return in the daylight hours to collect the vehicle. In other words, I don't recall that the abandoned vehicle was impeding traffic on the road, and towed immediately from the scene. MOO

Agreed. Also in one of the videos shared earlier a reporter stood where the car was found and pointed out the tire tracks where it went off the road along some trees.

 

[nao]

Doing 360's (spinning the car)is a common thing to do when you are raised in rural area's... just for fun. Older cars are better because they have rear wheel drive.

 

[Rosiebones]

I continue to believe that the roots of this situation are up in San Marcos at The Retreat.
I believe that with the interviews that LE has done or are doing with classmates, roommates and people he worked with at Jimmy John's is giving them background. We are not privy to any of that and so have to pursue possibilities.
There are several observations to consider;
He has attended three different colleges, why? Change of major, grades, or something else? What is his major?
His backpack had video game items and some sort of drugs/weed/narcotics for his use during his holidays at home. I know some will say that is typical but his upbringing doesn't seem to support this.
I have raised three sons and believe me, I know how hard it is for some young men to find a career path and to commit to it. JL has all the signs of a lost soul to me.
Of course, all of my musings above don't say where to find him unfortunately. MOO MOO MOO

 

[JrTex]

That also makes me wonder what the law says on matters such as this one. Would LE need a warrant to search the car or is the wrecked car considered probable cause in and of itself?

A wrecked car does not grant PC for LE to search. However, under impound procedures, an inventory can be conducted. In general, when a vehicle is abandoned and towed, LE will NOT inventory the inside of a locked car. If a vehicle is locked, the contents inside are considered secure and hence there is no reason to search. This doesn't preclude them from doing so but it isn't necessary in 99.99% of the time.

 

[JrTex]

I believe the first report I read referred to the vehicle found crashed in a ditch. I'm familiar with these roads and to me, that would mean the ditch between the shoulder and the improved roadway. I think this corroborates CCSO's later statement that the crashed, abandoned, vehicle did not raise any alarms initially -- their assumption was the owner would most likely return in the daylight hours to collect the vehicle. In other words, I don't recall that the abandoned vehicle was impeding traffic on the road, and towed immediately from the scene. MOO

Great point and I agree. Of course, by 2:00 AM, they had already spoken to the ROs of the vehicle, Jason's parents; So towing was probably authorized - I'm sure.

 

[jellybean96]

My niece lives about 12 min from Luling and she says the helicopters have been flying low more today than normal. Hopefully that means they are out looking again.

 

[renarde]

My niece lives about 12 min from Luling and she says the helicopters have been flying low more today than normal. Hopefully that means they are out looking again.

Could it have had something to do with this (unrelated) incident earlier today, about 16 minutes from Luling?

"Multiple deputies responded along with Luling EMS and Southeast Volunteer Fire Department crews. The child was taken to Seton Edgar B. Davis Hospital in Luling, where they were pronounced dead by staff."

Caldwell County deputies respond after child dies following tractor accident

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Texas State student from Missouri City missing after car found totaled, abandoned

Dec 14, 2020

[..]

The Landry family moved to Missouri City a little over a decade ago. Jason, the youngest of three siblings, is in his third year at Texas State.
_________________

The video news report at link above clearly states the vehicle spun and hit a tree, trunk first. This best explains the vehicle's visible, rear damage. This info only available in the video -- not the print news.

I am still wondering if some of that rear damage was done after the accident by crews towing or searching vehicle. I don't think we can say with certainty that the way it looks in the images shown is the exact way it ended up in the ditch. MOO. Unfortunately, I have not quotable source for any of my assumptions.

A wrecked car does not grant PC for LE to search. However, under impound procedures, an inventory can be conducted. In general, when a vehicle is abandoned and towed, LE will NOT inventory the inside of a locked car. If a vehicle is locked, the contents inside are considered secure and hence there is no reason to search. This doesn't preclude them from doing so but it isn't necessary in 99.99% of the time.

Thanks for this info. Curious, does this change "if" the back window was broken out during the crash? If so, could we or should we assume that happened after the accident?

Curious also if you know at what point it could have changed to searching the vehicle? Wonder if they would have done DNA on the blood found and further searched vehicle?

 

[ForensicToxicologist]

I am still wondering if some of that rear damage was done after the accident by crews towing or searching vehicle. I don't think we can say with certainty that the way it looks in the images shown is the exact way it ended up in the ditch. MOO. Unfortunately, I have not quotable source for any of my assumptions.

Thanks for this info. Curious, does this change "if" the back window was broken out during the crash? If so, could we or should we assume that happened after the accident?

Curious also if you know at what point it could have changed to searching the vehicle? Wonder if they would have done DNA on the blood found and further searched vehicle?

Once it became a missing persons investigation they would’ve been able to get a warrant to search the vehicle. If the parents are the actual owners of the car, they could also give LE permission to search without a warrant. LE has stated they were running DNA from the blood, but we haven’t been told the results.

In regards to the back window, I saw on here (thread 1 I think) that the FD peeled it back to make sure no one was trapped inside. However, I don’t remember if that was a reported fact or if it was speculation by WS members. Anyone remember?

ETA: I went back to thread 1 and could only find speculation about the FD and back glass. If anyone has found out differently, please let me know.

 

[Lulingresident6]

Okay...I just joined this conversation. Let me clear a few things up as I live about 1.5 miles from where this happened:
1. There is no real "ditch" on this road. There is a grassy shoulder and because these roads are basically one lane, people use the grassy shoulder to pass someone coming the other direction.
2. It is pitch black on that road at night. That said, there are gas burnoff flares and if he walked far enough back towards Luling, there are houses close the road that have lights.
3. Hard to imagine he was too impaired (prior to the accident) considering that he was able to get quite a ways down Salt Flat Road and navigated some very sharp curves on the way. Where he wrecked was more on a straight part of the road.
4. There are a ton of deer out here and especially in that area. If someone swerves to miss a deer, they could easily have the type of accident he had. Most people that have grown up in a city like Houston don't understand that if you can't stop to keep from hitting a deer, you shouldn't swerve to miss it...you just have to slam on the brakes and hope you don't hit it or damage your car too badly. Swerving to miss an animal can result in a spin-out of this nature.
5. There are roads that come off of Salt Flat Road near where to accident occurred, but many of them lead into oil fields with no residents. He may have taken one of those and gotten turned around way out in the middle of some pasture, but considering all the searching they did, I assume they would have found something.
6. The 2 abandoned houses closest to the accident site are falling apart and appear completely abandoned.
7. The backpack very well could have been in the "roadway" but off to the side of the gravel road and in the grass.
8. If he was walking back towards Luling and came to Pumper Road which is a right turn coming from the accident site, he may have stayed on what he thought was SFR, but ended up on Pumper Road, which would have taken him to a highway with a 65 mph speed limit...who knows what could have happened if that was the case.

 

[Eliodoha]

I’ve also wondered if maybe threw out the backpack, but it had his wallet in it besides the “narcotics.” So that wouldn’t make any sense IMO. It really seems to me the backpack was taken out of the car and then dropped along the road. I don’t know how it would have flown out during crash b/c it was down the road in the direction he came from. Head scratcher.

He could have left the car on foot with backpack, stopped to search for phone (hence clothing found outside of backpack). They found the car locked with keys in the ignition, so he couldn’t get to his phone. I can’t tell if the vehicle damage was such that he might have attempted to gain entry through a crashed window.

 

[mlhenn]

8. If he was walking back towards Luling and came to Pumper Road which is a right turn coming from the accident site, he may have stayed on what he thought was SFR, but ended up on Pumper Road, which would have taken him to a highway with a 65 mph speed limit...who knows what could have happened if that was the case.

I’m glad you brought up Pumper Rd. I was looking at a map of the area & Pumper Rd stood out to me for some reason. He could have very well got confused or turned around with it being so dark and travelled down that particular road. But honestly, there are so many places he could have gone. I just pray there are answers soon.

 

[renarde]

Okay...I just joined this conversation. Let me clear a few things up as I live about 1.5 miles from where this happened:
1. There is no real "ditch" on this road. There is a grassy shoulder and because these roads are basically one lane, people use the grassy shoulder to pass someone coming the other direction.
2. It is pitch black on that road at night. That said, there are gas burnoff flares and if he walked far enough back towards Luling, there are houses close the road that have lights.
3. Hard to imagine he was too impaired (prior to the accident) considering that he was able to get quite a ways down Salt Flat Road and navigated some very sharp curves on the way. Where he wrecked was more on a straight part of the road.
4. There are a ton of deer out here and especially in that area. If someone swerves to miss a deer, they could easily have the type of accident he had. Most people that have grown up in a city like Houston don't understand that if you can't stop to keep from hitting a deer, you shouldn't swerve to miss it...you just have to slam on the brakes and hope you don't hit it or damage your car too badly. Swerving to miss an animal can result in a spin-out of this nature.
5. There are roads that come off of Salt Flat Road near where to accident occurred, but many of them lead into oil fields with no residents. He may have taken one of those and gotten turned around way out in the middle of some pasture, but considering all the searching they did, I assume they would have found something.
6. The 2 abandoned houses closest to the accident site are falling apart and appear completely abandoned.
7. The backpack very well could have been in the "roadway" but off to the side of the gravel road and in the grass.
8. If he was walking back towards Luling and came to Pumper Road which is a right turn coming from the accident site, he may have stayed on what he thought was SFR, but ended up on Pumper Road, which would have taken him to a highway with a 65 mph speed limit...who knows what could have happened if that was the case.

Great information, thank you, and welcome to our conversation.

I'm just curious, do you think Jason missed that turn toward I-10 at the light, and that's how he ended up on Salt Flat Road? How far was he from that light in town? And is it possible he might've originally accessed Salt Flat Road after turning left at that light (instead of right), and then turning right onto Pumper Road... before ending up on Salt Flat?

What do you think might've happened to Jason after the wreck?