Adrian Johnson Killed in Alleged Drunk Driver Accident in Westlake, TX

Westlake, TX — June 14, 2024, Adrian Johnson was killed following an alleged drunk driver accident at around 9:00 p.m. on Highway 114.

Preliminary details about the accident say that it happened on the westbound service road along TX-114 near Solana Boulevard.

According to officials, 50-year-old Adrian Donald Johnson was in a Toyota Corolla driving along the service road. From eastbound main lanes of the highway, it appears a Volvo car left the roadway, crossed the median, crossed westbound lanes, then vaulted onto the service road where it crashed into Johnson’s vehicle. As a result, Johnson was killed.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Authorities alleged that the Volvo driver may have been under the influence of alcohol, and they recommended charges for intoxication manslaughter. If those allegations are true, that charge alone may not be enough to truly ensure there’s accountability for all of this. Another thing investigators need to consider is if the driver was illegally over-served by a local alcohol provider. Here’s why that matters.

In Texas, it’s illegal for an establishment to over-serve someone who is obviously intoxicated. Doing so exposes an alcohol provider to potential criminal investigations, fines, license suspensions, and liability for the people who were harmed. Unfortunately, once authorities have a driver they’re charging, they often just stop their investigations. Meanwhile, there could be some alcohol provider being let off the hook despite breaking the law and contributing to a senseless, deadly accident.

Simply put, I’ve worked with hundreds of families to confront negligent alcohol providers for their role in a serious accident. Those families never wanted an easy explanation or some bad guy they could point their finger at. They wanted accountability. If this all was the result of some reckless driver who couldn’t bother calling for a cab, then they should be held responsible. If a local alcohol provider broke the law and over-served that person, they, too, should be held accountable. That’s why I have to wonder if authorities are doing right by the victim’s family here and making sure they see a just resolution to all of this.