Parker County, TX — December 8, 2024, Cora Estep was killed and Wanda King and Christina Jones were injured after an alleged drunk driver accident on F.M. 730.
According to initial details about the accident, it happened at around 3:50 p.m. in the area of F.M. 730 and Clayton Road, between Azle and Weatherford.
Investigators said that 69-year-old Wanda King, 45-year-old Christina Jones, and 71-year-old Cora Estep were in a Buick that was going northbound along F.M. 730. From the southbound lane, an oncoming Ford F-150 reportedly attempted to pass in a no-passing zone. This resulted in the pickup crashing head-on into the Buick.
As a result of the collision, Estep was killed. King and Jones were both taken to a Fort Worth hospital with serious injuries. No other injuries were reported.
The driver of the pickup is accused of being drunk at the time of the crash. Authorities reported charges for intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
People don’t often consider drunk driving as a danger in the middle of the afternoon, but the unfortunate reality is that it happens at all times of day. I’ve handled hundreds of drunk driving accident cases. There is no shortage of restaurants, brunch spots, gas stations, grocery stores, and all kinds of other establishments ready to serve customers to the point they can’t safely drive morning, noon, and night. Then, those drivers go out on the road, get people killed, and folks are left wondering what can be done to fix this problem.
Obviously, seeing drunk drivers held accountable is a priority. It would seem steps are being taken to see that happens here. But there also should be consideration for where the driver got their alcohol from and whether or not they were unlawfully over-served. Negligent alcohol providers can face criminal investigations, fines, suspended licenses, and liability for resulting deaths or injuries after these kinds of accidents. Failing to investigate them, though, just allows them to continue on as usual, and more families are bound to suffer similar fates.
Perhaps authorities here are being thorough and looking into all of the events that ultimately led to the crash. However, it’s my experience that victims and families rarely get the whole story when they just wait around for authorities to handle things on their own. The scope of their investigations can often be too narrow to catch things like complicit negligent alcohol providers who contributed to the crash. That’s why there may need to be more thorough independent investigations to make sure the victims and families involved here not only get the answers they deserve but also see accountability for all wrongdoers responsible for the accident.
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