Jose Valles Killed in Alleged Drunk Driver Accident in North Richland Hills, TX

North Richland Hills, TX — October 13, 2024, Jose Valles was killed due to an alleged drunk driver accident late Sunday along Onyx Drive.

Investigators said in preliminary statements that the incident happened along Onyx in a residential area off Rufe Snow Drive and Boulevard 26.

According to officials, 64-year-old Jose Valles was by his vehicle which was parked along the side of the road. While there, another driver reportedly sideswiped the vehicle, hitting Jose Valles in the process. As a result, Valles sustained fatal injuries. The driver involved reportedly fled the scene, but authorities say they made an arrest.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

The alleged runaway driver, who was also allegedly drunk, is said to be facing charges of intoxication manslaughter and collision causing death. If the allegations here are true, that obviously calls for serious consequences. But charges against a drunk driver alone may not be enough to really address what happened here. Too often, authorities overlook accomplices responsible for these accidents: negligent alcohol providers.

Simply put, alcohol providers such as bars and restaurants who unlawfully over-serve someone that is obviously intoxicated can face criminal investigations, fines, license suspensions, and liability when people get hurt or killed. This is important because, in my experience working with hundreds of families affected by drunk drivers, people don’t want the easy explanation. They don’t want some bad guy to blame. They want to see accountability for the wrongs done to them. If there was an alcohol provider who broke the law and legally contributed to a deadly accident, shouldn’t they, too, face consequences for their actions just as drunk drivers do for theirs? They absolutely should—and that’s not just my opinion. That’s Texas law. It’s just a matter of whether or not steps are being taken to explore those laws.