Hidalgo County, TX — July 9, 2024, Juan Lopez Gutierrez was killed following a pedestrian accident at around 4:30 a.m. along F.M. 1925.
Authorities said in preliminary details that the accident happened near F.M. 1925/East Monte Cristo Road and Harmel Drive in the area of La Blanca.
According to officials, 36-year-old Juan Lopez Gutierrez was walking at the time and along eastbound lanes. In a series of events unclear, an eastbound Chrysler struck Lopez Gutierrez. Lopez Gutierrez was then hit by a Silverado. As a result, Lopez Gutierrez was killed. Authorities did not report any charges or citations resulting from the accident.
Other details are unclear right now.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Folks tend to assume pedestrian accidents are always a straightforward situation of determining who had the right-of-way. That’s not always true, which is why these accidents need thorough investigations. For example, a family came to us about a pedestrian accident not long ago. The victim was hit on a freeway following a night out with friends, and authorities weren’t really getting any clear answers. As we dug into things, a complex series of events came to light.
It turned out the man had been out drinking, and the establishment serving him did so illegally. He became obviously intoxicated, and despite that intoxication being a danger to him, the establishment continued to serve him. He responsibly tried to walk home rather than drive, but this incidentally led to him wandering off the walkway, up an exit ramp, and into traffic. That made the alcohol provider liable for contributing to the man’s death.
What a lot of people just brushed off as someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time ended up being a complex case of a negligent alcohol provider and their role in a fatal accident. Had the family not sought out a second opinion, there’s no telling if the full story ever would have come to light. I’m not saying that happened here or even that it’s common. The point is that there can be no concrete conclusions until it’s clear investigators have considered all of the facts, likely or not. Whether or not that’s happened here remains to be seen.
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