2 Injured in Alleged Drunk Driver Accident on S.H. 60 in Wharton, TX

Wharton County, TX — May 15, 2025, two people were injured in an alleged drunk driver accident at approximately 7:15 p.m. along State Highway 60.

According to authorities, a 44-year-old man was traveling in an eastbound Infiniti on Sunset Drive at the S.H. 60 (Richmond Road) intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, the Infiniti was struck from behind by a Volkswagen Jetta occupied by a 56-year-old man who had allegedly been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the wreck. The man from the Infiniti sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash, according to reports. The man from the Jetta received minor injuries, as well.

Authorities have recommended charges of Driving While Intoxicated against the man who had been behind the wheel of the striking vehicle. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I see reports of a suspected drunk driving crash during early evening hours—like this one in Wharton County—it reminds me how often these incidents unfold when most people are simply going about their daily routines. Evening traffic, daylight still visible, nothing out of the ordinary—until someone’s decision to drive impaired changes everything in an instant.

Authorities believe alcohol played a role in this rear-end collision, which left one man seriously injured. If that’s true, then it’s worth asking a question that doesn’t always make the headlines: Where was the driver drinking before getting behind the wheel? In Texas, when someone causes harm after being overserved alcohol, the business that served them—if it continued serving despite clear signs of intoxication—can be held accountable under our state’s dram shop law. That legal principle isn’t about blaming a bar for a person’s bad decisions. It’s about holding all parties to the responsibilities they carry, especially when their role may have enabled the outcome.

The reality is that alcohol service isn’t always monitored as closely as it should be. Many times, no one investigates how someone ended up so impaired that they posed a danger on the road. And in some cases, the injured party may never learn that a bar or restaurant’s actions are part of what allowed the wreck to happen. That’s what makes dram shop law so important—not just for accountability, but for transparency.

When someone is seriously hurt, it’s natural to focus on the driver who caused the wreck. But in some cases, there’s more to uncover. Full justice often means asking harder questions about what happened beforehand—and who else may have contributed by putting alcohol in the hands of someone who shouldn’t have had it.

Three key takeaways:

1. If alcohol was a factor, the law allows victims to investigate where the driver was drinking and whether an alcohol provider contributed through overservice.
2. Dram shop law exists to hold bars and restaurants accountable when they serve alcohol to someone who’s clearly intoxicated and that person causes harm.
3. Most people don’t realize these legal remedies exist, but they can be a vital path to answers and accountability when serious injuries result from impaired driving.