Howard County, TX — July 25, 2024, Jose Morales Gonzales Sr. was killed as the result of a car accident at around 9:15 p.m. along U.S. Highway 87.
Authorities said in preliminary statements that the accident took place in the area of Coop Gin Road, north of Big Spring.
According to officials, 64-year-old Jose Morales Gonzales Sr. was in a Jeep Cherokee going northbound on U.S. 87. For reasons unclear, the Jeep was stopped. While there, an approaching Dodge Ram 3500 slammed into the back of Morales Gonzales, forcing the Jeep off-road where it overturned. Morales Gonzales was killed as a result. The other driver did not appear to be injured.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Right now, authorities allege that the Dodge driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. No charges have been confirmed. It’s possible authorities have been waiting for more solid evidence before pursuing any charges. Folks tend to think drunk driving accidents are as straight-forward as it gets, but they can actually present rather unique challenges.
For example, I’ve handled hundreds of cases involving drunk drivers. They rarely involve just an individual drunk driver. Many involve negligent alcohol providers, as well. If somewhere like a bar over-serves someone, and that person causes an accident, the alcohol provider may face criminal investigations, fines, license suspensions, and liability for the resulting harm. That’s not something authorities tend to look into on their own, which is why investigations can often become complex unless there are others looking into the situation with more experience investigating negligent alcohol providers.
Ultimately, that may not be what happened here, or authorities may have already taken further steps outside of the public eye to see there are appropriate consequences here. That said, it would be far from the first time there turned out to be more to a story like this. That’s why it’s prudent to have accidents like this handled carefully, thoroughly, and promptly.
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