Dallas, TX — September 20, 2024, 56-year-old Mirna Guzman was killed in a traffic accident with a suspected DWI driver on Bruton Road in Dallas.
According to authorities, the accident happened around 11:30 p.m. on the 7800 block of Bruton Road at Prichard Lane. Preliminary investigation suggests a Chevrolet Trailblazer was traveling west on Bruton when the driver allegedly disregarded a red light at the Prichard intersection. Continuing west, the Chevy then crashed into the driver’s side of Mirna Guzman’s southbound Honda Accord. After the impact both vehicles ran off the road to the south and the Honda hit two unoccupied vehicles in a driveway.
Mirna Guzman was fatally injured in the accident. The Trailblazer’s 34-year-old driver reportedly sustained minor injuries.
Investigators suspected the Chevy driver of being intoxicated and collected blood samples for toxicology tests. Results are pending.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
If blood tests confirm alcohol was involved here as suggested, some may think that mostly pertains to the criminal charges the suspect might face. That part is of course very important, and if that driver was under the influence when he caused this fatal wreck then I hope the full extent of the law comes down on him in response. Drunk drivers put everyone at risk on the road, and they should face serious consequences for the harm their poor choices cause. However, I’d argue the same is true of everyone who plays a part in these wrecks and their terrible outcomes. But who else should be held accountable?
Many people aren’t aware of this, but licensed alcohol providers in Texas are prohibited from selling or serving drinks to an obviously intoxicated customer. If they illegally over-serve someone, they may be liable for any injuries he causes while under the influence. Put another way, it’s not always just a drunk driver who’s responsible for a crash—sometimes it’s also the place that helped him get drunk. Confronting them in court is a way to teach them a harsh lesson and get help for the people they hurt.
I’m not accusing any specific Dallas business of pouring too many for the offending driver, and not every DWI accident involves a law-breaking bar. The source of the drinks is simply an important detail to learn, but unfortunately police rarely make it a priority. If an alcohol vendor may have contributed to the crash then it may be best to have someone else look for the proof needed to hold it accountable. At the very least, making sure a negligent business stops endangering its community seems like more than enough reason to investigate further.
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