TEXAS – A Liberty County family announced the filing of a civil lawsuit during a press conference outside the Harris County Courthouse, alleging years of investigative failures and misconduct tied to a 2020 crash that left Madelyn Marina Quiroz permanently paralyzed.
Speakers stated the lawsuit names multiple individuals, including Liberty County officials and prosecutors, and alleges what they described as years of cover-ups and incomplete investigations following the crash.
According to the filing, the crash occurred on January 23, 2020, in Dayton, Texas, when Madelyn, then 16, was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a high-speed race. The lawsuit states the vehicles were traveling between approximately 86 and 96 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone before the driver lost control and crashed.
During the press conference, the family and their attorney, U.A. Lewis, stated the crash was not initially treated as a racing incident and alleged that key evidence was not properly investigated or preserved. They said body camera footage and other materials that could have supported a criminal case were not obtained or were later unavailable.
Madelyn’s mother, Marina Hernandez Quiroz, a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy and accident investigator, stated she began identifying issues with the case shortly after the crash, saying the handling of the scene “did not pass the smell test.”
She described concerns with scene management, including decisions not to fully investigate reckless driving at the time and the assignment of a rookie officer to handle the crash investigation. She also stated that requests for an accident reconstruction response were not reflected in official records.
The lawsuit and statements made during the press conference also raised concerns about missing evidence, including four body-worn camera recordings described in the filing as deleted, lost, or unaccounted for, with no clear chain of custody provided.
The family also stated that scene control was inadequate following the crash. According to the lawsuit, an unauthorized individual, later identified as a Union Pacific employee, Curtis Huckaby Jr., entered the active crash scene while on duty, walked around the wrecked vehicle, knelt near the open doors, and removed items from the vehicle.
The filing states Huckaby took Madelyn’s phone and a bag from the vehicle without permission while the investigation was still active, and the property and evidence were never recovered.
Additional concerns outlined during the press conference included delays in medical response, with the family stating Madelyn was not transported to a trauma center within the critical “golden hour.” The lawsuit states she arrived at the hospital approximately one and a half hours after the collision.
According to the filing, Madelyn suffered catastrophic injuries, including a permanent spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, internal injuries, and long-term neurological impairment.
Speakers at the press conference also referenced prior court proceedings tied to the case, alleging a lack of preparation by prosecutors. The lawsuit cites statements from a hearing where the State initially announced readiness before later acknowledging it had not contacted witnesses and was not prepared to proceed.
The lawsuit alleges that multiple agencies acted in ways that resulted in an incomplete investigative record, limiting the family’s ability to pursue legal remedies.
The family is seeking damages exceeding $1,000,000 and injunctive relief to compel the preservation and production of all relevant evidence.
During the press conference, speakers called for further review of the case and broader accountability, stating the issues raised extend beyond a single incident.
Madelyn Quiroz briefly addressed attendees, thanking supporters and stating she no longer feels alone as the case moves forward.
