Horseshoe Bay, TX — August 23, 2025, Abraham Hernandez was killed due to an alleged drunk driver accident just before 2:00 a.m. along Broken Arrow.
According to authorities, 19-year-old Abraham Misael Hernandez was on foot in the vicinity of the Broken Arrow and Tonto intersection when the accident took place.
Officials indicate that Hernandez was struck by a motor vehicle occupied by a 27-year-old man from Austin. Hernandez reportedly sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was declared deceased at the scene.
The man who had been behind the wheel at the time of the accident was taken into police custody. Authorities have recommended Intoxication Manslaughter with a Vehicle charges against him, reports state. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When I see reports of a late-night crash like this one, I’m reminded that the story is rarely as simple as a driver and a victim crossing paths by chance. Authorities say alcohol may have been involved, and that raises questions that go beyond the roadway itself. Often, the real story begins hours earlier, at the place where the driver was drinking.
One of the most important but often overlooked questions in cases like this is, “Where did the driver get their alcohol?” If the 27-year-old man now facing charges had been drinking at a bar, restaurant, or another alcohol-serving establishment before driving, and he was already showing obvious signs of intoxication, that business may share responsibility under Texas dram shop law. The law recognizes that overservice isn’t just bad judgment—it can directly contribute to the kinds of harm we see in crashes like this one.
It’s not always obvious, but many drunk driving crashes are preventable if providers do their part. Was this driver at a bar where staff chose to look the other way? Did someone keep serving him after it was clear he’d had too much? Those questions often aren’t asked in criminal investigations, but they matter a great deal when considering the full picture of accountability.
If alcohol truly played a role here, then the victim’s death didn’t just begin at the moment of impact—it may have started earlier, with someone serving drinks past the point of safety. That’s why Texas law gives families the tools to look deeper and uncover whether an alcohol provider contributed to the loss.
Here are three key takeaways worth keeping in mind:
- Dram shop law holds alcohol providers accountable when they overserve patrons who are already obviously intoxicated.
- A full investigation should examine not just the driver’s actions, but also where and how he obtained his alcohol.
- Many people are unaware that the law provides remedies to uncover these details and pursue accountability from all responsible parties.
