SILSBEE, TX — November 24, 2025 — An 11-month-old boy was tragically killed in a rear-end accident on Monday on Farm-to-Market Road 327 in Silsbee. The victim, Elijah Howard, was a passenger in a Jeep Cherokee that was preparing to turn left into a driveway around 5:15 p.m. when it was struck from behind by a pickup truck. Police investigators stated the pickup truck driver, 26-year-old Austin Tyler Armstrong, allegedly failed to control his speed, which was cited as a factor in the collision. Young Elijah was killed, and his mother was critically injured. Two other children and one additional adult in the Jeep also sustained injuries. Mr. Armstrong has been charged by authorities with manslaughter in connection with the fatal crash. The accident remains under investigation.
Elijah Howard killed in Silsbee rear-end crash, police report
Incident Location
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that rear-end crashes result in approximately 950,000 injuries and 2,000 fatalities annually, highlighting the severe danger of even momentary inattention. Distracted driving, often the leading cause of such collisions, alongside excessive speed—which police cited as a factor in this incident—and driver impairment, frequently contributes to these tragic events. Candice Bond, an experienced auto accident attorney and national analyst for Accident Injury News, emphasized that in cases such as this, an independent investigation is critical for the victim’s family to preserve crucial evidence. Bond noted, “A lawyer can collect the proper evidence to help prove that a driver’s actions were reckless, which requires a variety of resources. These resources include re-interviewing important witnesses, analyzing any surveillance video from the scene of the crash, and obtaining phone and text records of the liable party.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
The surviving family members of Elijah Howard may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver deemed responsible for the fatal crash. Stefano Formica, Of Counsel with Bond Legal and a national analyst for Accident Injury News, stressed the importance of protecting the family’s interests during such a devastating time. He commented, “We understand just what families are forced to go through, and having their rights protected is vital.” Formica stated that a wrongful death attorney can guide the family through the legal process and help ensure they seek recovery for damages, which typically include loss of companionship, emotional distress, and pain and suffering following a catastrophic accident.
(This report is based on verified data - learn more on our About Us page.)
If your loved one has died at the hands of a reckless driver and would like a no-cost consultation, please contact our national legal analyst Candice Bond today
(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).
