Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
UPDATE (November 29, 2023): In recent public statement from authorities, there are unconfirmed claims that the victim in this crash was over three times the legal limit for drunk driving. I don’t bring that up to upset anyone or to speak ill of the victim. For all I know, these allegations are mistaken. But if there is evidence to support this, it makes me wonder if authorities are actually giving this terrible event the attention it deserves. Could it be authorities are overlooking something important?
Let me give an example of what I mean. Not long ago, we got a call about a driver going along a freeway here in DFW when they crashed into the barrier, causing the car to burst in the flames. Tragically, that driver died. The family wanted to be sure they were getting the whole story, so they asked us to look into things. Well, authorities found that the driver had been well over the legal limit for drunk driving, and they figured that was the whole story. But it wasn’t.
Our team investigated further, and the evidence we uncovered showed that the victim had been illegally over-served by a local establishment. That opened the business up to potential fines from the TABC, civil liability under dram shop law, charges against the bartender who over-served the victim, and even potential closure if that mistake was one of many others. With consequences like that, over-serving someone is obviously a serious offense in Texas, especially if it leads to a fatal crash. Yet authorities didn’t even bother looking beyond the crash scene and the toxicology test because they were content to just put all the blame on the victim.
Again, it’s not for me to say what did or didn’t happen here. It’s also possible authorities have been entirely thorough and simply didn’t release all of their findings to the public. It’s just that I’ve handled hundreds of wrongful death cases involving alcohol, and the families I’ve worked with weren’t looking for excuses or someone to shift blame to. When authorities jump on what they feel is the easiest explanation, they might miss something crucial. If they don’t follow up on those possibilities, then the victims and families might not be getting the whole story, plain and simple. Are authorities here telling the whole story?
Marshall, TX — September 22, 2023, Billy R. Warren Jr. was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 20 near Marshall, TX.
Authorities indicate that on September 22, a fatal accident occurred when a Ford pickup truck collided near Marshall for unknown reasons. According to reports, the crash happened at approximately 6:58 in the evening.
Investigators say the Ford pickup was traveling eastbound along Interstate 20 when it suddenly left the roadway. The Ford driver attempted to get back on course to the left, and the truck overturned.
Officials confirmed the Ford driver, Billy R. Warren Jr., 47, suffered fatal injuries in the crash. No other injuries were reported, and no other vehicles were involved.
The investigation is ongoing.
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