Child Killed, 2 Other Injured in Suspected Drunk Driver Accident on State Highway 95 near Shiner, TX

Basic Facts

Crash date: March 14, 2026

Crash location: State Highway 95 south of Shiner, TX

People involved:

• Unidentified driver, 64
• Artis Sparks, 44
• Chekayla Brown, 35
• Unidentified passengers

Do authorities suspect alcohol played a role in this crash? Yes

Did authorities recommend criminal charges? Unknown

Do authorities suspect a product defect caused the crash? Unknown

Accident Report

Lavaca County, TX — March 14, 2206, a child was killed and two others were injured in a suspected drunk driver accident at about 9:50 p.m. on State Highway 95.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a southbound 2015 Ford F-250 collided with a northbound 2023 Chevrolet Malibu while making a left turn south of Shiner.

A 5-year-old boy in the Chevrolet died from injuries suffered in the crash, while two other children — a 10-year-old girl and a 7-year-old girl were seriously injured, the report states. Driver Artis Sparks, 44, and passenger Chekayla Brown, 35, suffered minor injuries.

The Ford driver, who allegedly had been drinking prior to the crash, also suffered serious injuries, according to the report. The report indicates he failed to yield before turning, but he is not facing any charges at this time.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Lavaca County crash.

How Did This Accident Occur?

If it turns out that the Ford driver was intoxicated, investigators have two tracks to follow in probing this crash: what caused the crash and where did the Ford driver get his alcohol?

The crash investigation will focus on evidence at the scene, including skid marks, debris from the wreck and data from the vehicles’ engine control modules, but answering the other question, about where the driver had been drinking, requires a deeper look.

If the man had been drinking at a bar or restaurant while obviously intoxicated, that establishment also may be accountable for the injuries he caused after getting behind the wheel, under Texas law. That avenue of investigation is often overlooked by law enforcement agencies, but the families grieving this crash deserve to know everyone who may be responsible for it.

Do you know anything that could aid in this investigation? Let us know in the comment section.