Dewitt County, TX — October 12, 2024, one person was killed and Beatriz Aguilar Ramos and two others were injured in a car accident at 7:00 p.m. on F.M. 884.

Initial details about the accident from authorities say it happened in the area of F.M. 884 and Ernest Lemke Road, just south of Yorktown.

According to investigators, 50-year-old Beatriz Aguilar Ramos and three others were in a Dodge Durango going southbound on F.M. 884. From the northbound lane, a Chevy Traverse crossed over the center line and crashed head-on into the Dodge.

Due to the accident, the Chevy driver was killed. Aguilar Ramos and one of the passengers in the Dodge had reportedly serious injuries while another passenger had moderate injuries. The fourth occupant wasn’t injured.

Right now, authorities say they believe alcohol was a factor in the accident. No further details can be confirmed.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

If evidence proves alcohol was a factor here, it would certainly offer a reasonable explanation as to how this all happened. However, despite what some might think, it wouldn’t necessarily make things open-and-shut. Anytime alcohol contributes to an accident, there needs to be consideration for where that alcohol came from. If the alleged drunk driver was unlawfully over-served, there could be a complicit alcohol provider who has mistakes to answer for.

Let me give an example of what I mean. I had a case not long ago where a family was hit head-on after a drunk driver went into oncoming lanes. Authorities were quick to deal with the drunk driver, but the family just wanted an outside opinion to make sure they understood all of their possible options. As it turned out, authorities completely overlooked the fact that the drunk driver was over-served by a bar.

We found evidence showing the bar pour drink after drink for that driver to the point he could barely walk to the bathroom, let alone drive. Even still, the drinks kept coming so long as he was buying. That exposed the bar to potential consequences, including criminal investigations, fines, having their license suspended, and possibly being liable for the crash their over-service contributed to. But had things been left solely to the authorities, the family might never have known this, and the bar could have flown under the radar without so much as a slap on the wrist.

Simply put, I’ve handled hundreds of cases against negligent alcohol providers, and it’s not often authorities extend their own investigations beyond the crash scene. Many drunk driving accidents involve complicit alcohol providers who can be held accountable for their actions, but if no one bothers looking for those negligent alcohol providers, they get to keep doing business as usual, and more people are likely to get hurt. That’s why seeing any complicit alcohol providers face appropriate consequences is so important after any serious accident.

Perhaps authorities here were more thorough and gave those involved in this crash the full story they deserve. It would certainly be a welcome change of pace from what I’m used to seeing. Because if this accident is like far too many I’ve dealt with, there could be more to this story.

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