Bastrop County, TX — March 1, 2024, Jose Vargas Leon was killed and Julian Rios was injured after a multi-car accident at around 11:00 p.m. on Highway 21.
Authorities said in their initial statements that the crash happened just off F.M. 535, south of Wyldwood (several miles southeast of Austin).
According to officials, 30-year-old Jose Vargas Leon was in a Chevy Silverado which was going eastbound on Highway 21. For reasons unclear, a collision occurred involving the Silverado, a Ford Escape driven by 66-year-old Julian Rios, and a Chevy Colorado.
Due to the collision, Vargas Leon was killed. Julian Rios was reportedly taken from the scene with serious injuries. No other injuries were reported.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
While details can’t be confirmed right now, authorities say alcohol is a suspected factor in the crash. If that proves true, it sadly wouldn’t be surprising. Drunk driving is all too common this late at night. But a factor being “common” doesn’t necessarily make it straight-forward.
On the contrary, alcohol-related crashes are often very complex because many of them involve negligent alcohol providers. Bars and other establishments that illegally over-serve someone and contribute to an accident can face criminal investigations, liability, and also fines or other penalties. If investigations put all of the focus on just an alleged drunk driver, they could miss a negligent alcohol provider that’s continuing to put the community in danger.
That’s why crashes like this one deserve as much attention as possible. If alcohol was not a factor here, it can be thoroughly ruled out. If it was, there can be steps to get the whole story about the events leading up to the collision. Obviously, the victims and families involved deserve answers, and they deserve to know how to get the help they need. But they also deserve to know those who wronged them or a loved one are being held accountable, and that’s especially true when doing so could help make the roads safer for everyone.
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