Fort Bend County, TX — September 10, 2025, John Kroll and one other were injured following an alleged drunk driver accident at 5:19 p.m. on Baker Road.
According to initial statements, the crash happened at the intersection of Baker Road and Brinkmeyer Road.
Investigators said that 66-year-old John Kroll was in a Hyundai Elantra going northeast on Brinkmeyer. A Chevy Silverado truck was going northwest on Baker. At the crossing, authorities allege that truck ran the stop sign and crashed into John Kroll.
John Kroll was seriously injured in the crash. The pickup driver, who reportedly had non-serious injuries, was allegedly drunk at the time of the accident. Authorities recommended charges.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a driver is accused of running a stop sign and causing a serious crash, that’s already a major issue. But when authorities also allege that the driver was intoxicated, it raises a different and much more complex set of concerns—ones that may reach far beyond the driver themselves.
If alcohol did in fact play a role here, investigators should be asking where that alcohol came from. Was the driver drinking at an establishment that served them despite signs of obvious intoxication? Under Texas law, businesses that serve alcohol have a legal duty to stop serving anyone who appears obviously intoxicated. When they fail in that duty and someone gets hurt, they can be held accountable for contributing to the resulting accident.
That concept is too often overlooked in the aftermath of a crash like this one., but it’s a critical part of the larger picture. Holding an intoxicated driver accountable is important, of course. However, if a negligent alcohol provider helped put that driver on the road in a dangerous condition, they share responsibility for the outcome. And that’s not my opinion; that’s Texas law.
Key Takeaways:
- If intoxication is confirmed, it’s important to investigate whether a bar or other alcohol provider continued to serve the driver while they were obviously intoxicated.
- Texas dram shop law allows for negligent alcohol providers to be held accountable when they contribute to crashes by over-serving patrons.
- Charges against a driver are just one step—there may be broader accountability that only a deeper investigation can uncover.
