‘Lack of Empathy’: Family of Texas Tech student struggles to get information on fatal crash

The above video shows the top local headlines for the morning of April 15, 2026. LUBBOCK, Texas -- Jordyn Dabelstein was sick on a Saturday morning, her family said; she visited urgent care, took a nap, and drove to get some food.  Jordyn was stopped at the intersection of Texas Tech Parkway and Indiana Avenue when a speeding Ford F150 crashed into the back of her car.  The Texas Tech Police Department responded to the accident. Jordyn sustained major injuries to her spine and was rushed to University Medical Center.  After two days on life support, Jordyn passed away on April 8. But her family said they haven’t had time to grieve — instead they’re searching for answers.  “The Texas Tech Police Department hasn't just shown a lack of communication, but a lack of empathy that I have never seen, ever,” said Seth Teague, Jordyn’s uncle. “We’re the family of the victim, and they’re treating us like we’re some kind of perpetrators.” Teague said the family has had to pry information from the Texas Tech Police Department. He said the department won’t take their calls anymore.  “They told the family that the individual involved was an elderly man having a medical emergency, that he wouldn’t be charged, and that the case was closed,” Teague said. “Now we’re being told it’s an ongoing investigation, but nothing has been done.” A police report released Tuesday said 81-year-old Jimmy Boyett was driving the Ford Truck. His passenger told police he “possibly blacked out.” Police did not take a blood test from Boyett to check for drug and alcohol usage, and he was taken to the hospital for minor injuries, according to the report. There are no details about what that medical emergency was. Teague said an independent witness, who happened to be an off-duty Lubbock Police Department officer, reached out to him about the crash.  “He said that they talked to him for maybe four minutes and were just really flippant about it,” Teague said, referring to the off-duty officer. “He was like ‘I’m a cop, this isn’t how we do things.’”  Teague also found dashcam video from another driver, taken about a minute before the accident, that shows a similar truck driving recklessly down Texas Tech Parkway.  “But he still had to go, you know, 300 yards on a turning road to hit Jordyn the way that he did,” Teague said. Teague said the family’s questions remain unanswered, as they consistently struggle to get in contact with investigators.  “Based on the incident report, based on dash cam footage, based on an independent eyewitness that happens to be a cop,” Teague said, “there’s no way that they can say this wasn’t negligence on his part.” He said the Dabelstein family plans to take legal action soon.  To help Jordyn's family with expenses, see the fundraiser here.