Hidalgo County, TX — October 19, 2024, Elena Ramos, Valentin Marquez, and one other were injured after an alleged drunk driver accident at 6:15 p.m. on Midway.
According to initial details about the accident, it happened at the intersection of Midway Road and Walker Road, southwest of Weslaco.
Investigators said that 47-year-old Elena Ramos and 48-year-old Valentin Marquez were in a Chevy Cruze going southbound on Midway Road. At Walker, authorities say that a GMC Sierra going westbound failed to yield, resulting in a collision. Due to the crash, Ramos reportedly was seriously injured while Marquez had moderate injuries. The GMC driver, an 18-year-old, reportedly had moderate injuries.
According to officials, the driver of the GMC was under the influence of alcohol. They recommended charges for intoxication assault. At this time, no further information is available.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Any allegations of drunk driving are concerning enough on their own without the accused being a teenager. If these accusations prove true, then obviously the alleged drunk driver may have some mistakes to answer for. But it would leave an important question: Who gave alcohol to a teenager? Answering that may not be as simple as folks would think.
It’s possible the provider was just an older acquaintance or family member, and they may have consequences in store for them. But I’ve handled hundreds of cases against licensed alcohol providers responsible for contributing to a serious car accident. Many establishments break all kinds of laws and regulations when serving alcohol. They unlawfully over-serve people, serve after hours, serve minors and others under the legal drinking age, and otherwise cut any corner possible so long as they feel they can get away with it. It can expose them to potential criminal investigations, fines, suspended license, and liability, but that’s only if people are actually looking to hold them accountable.
So, was this teen served by a bar? A restaurant? A corner store? A liquor store? And if so, are authorities taking any steps to see there are consequences for that? Texas law is thorough enough that both a drunk driver and a negligent alcohol provider can be held accountable for their respective actions. It’s just a matter of ensuring investigators are actually being thorough enough not to let their actions fly under the radar.
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