Blanco County, TX — August 10, 2025, Cynthia Schade and Donna Stevens were killed and two other people were injured in an alleged drunk driver accident at about 2:45 p.m. on F.M. 165.
Authorities said a Mercedes SUV rear-ended a Subaru Outlander east of Blanco. The collision forced the Subaru into the oncoming lane, where it was hit by a Hyundai Santa Fe.
Subaru driver Cynthia Schade and passenger Donna Stevens died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.
The two people in the Hyundai were hospitalized with unspecified injuries, authorities said.
The driver of the Mercedes was arrested after driving away from the crash, according to authorities. She is facing multiple charges, including two counts of intoxication manslaughter.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Blanco County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When I read about incidents like this one, what stands out to me isn’t just what happened, but what’s missing from the conversation. Two lives were lost, others were hurt and now an alleged drunk driver faces serious charges, but that’s not the whole picture. What often goes unexamined is how someone became so impaired in the first place, especially in the middle of the afternoon. That raises an important public safety question: Where was this person drinking before getting behind the wheel?
One of the most important but often overlooked questions in cases like this is, “Did an alcohol provider play a role?” In Texas, bars, restaurants or other establishments that serve alcohol have a legal responsibility not to over-serve obviously intoxicated patrons. If someone was already showing signs of being impaired and was served anyway, that business may share in the responsibility for what happened next. The law allows victims and their families to pursue answers, but these issues rarely come to light unless someone asks the right questions, and asks them early.
If alcohol did contribute to this crash, then it’s worth asking whether an irresponsible alcohol provider helped set the events in motion. That’s the kind of question dram shop law is built to answer; not to punish businesses indiscriminately, but to make sure they’re not fueling dangerous situations behind the scenes.
The public often sees drunk driving crashes as isolated acts of individual recklessness. But time and again, we find that someone else may have looked the other way. When that happens, accountability shouldn’t stop with the driver.
Key Takeaways:
- Dram shop law holds alcohol providers accountable when they over-serve an obviously intoxicated person who later causes harm.
- Crashes like this should prompt a deeper investigation into where the alcohol came from, and whether it was served responsibly.
- Families affected by these incidents may have legal options they’ve never heard of, and the law provides tools to help them find answers.
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