Leon County, TX — January 27, 2024, Patrick Birdwell was injured following an alleged intoxicated driver accident at around 7:41 p.m. along Highway 7.
According to initial details about the accident from authorities, the crash occurred near the intersection of Highway 7 and F.M. 202, east of Centerville.
Officials said in preliminary statements that 41-year-old Patrick Birdwell was in a Dodge Ram 2500 pickup going westbound along the highway. From eastbound lanes, authorities say that a Honda CR-V attempted to pass a another vehicle, going left of center. This led to the Honda and the Dodge colliding.
Due to the collision, both Birdwell and the other driver had apparently serious injuries. The Honda driver was allegedly drunk at the time of the accident, and authorities say they recommended that driver be charged for intoxication assault. Right now, further information is unavailable.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
I can’t help but be concerned whenever I read about an alleged drunk driving accident out in a rural part of the state. Drunk driving wrecks usually involve a negligent alcohol provider like a bar or restaurant, and remedying the situation means they need to be held accountable for their actions just as drunk drivers are held accountable for theirs. Unfortunately, agencies like the TABC are stretched thin across the state, and their efforts are largely concentrated on the more urban areas of Texas. As a result, the drunk drivers tend to get all the focus while the establishments who illegally over-served them get off scot-free unless other avenues are considered. There were even times our firm investigated a bar for a personal injury case, handed all of our evidence to the authorities on a silver platter, and they still never bothered taking action.
Just to be clear, none of this is to suggest that agencies like the TABC are to blame for the situation. On the contrary, they’re a vital part in the larger struggle against drunk driving in our state. My point rather is that they’re only one tool among many that are available to Texans when it comes to making things right after a serious drunk driving accident.
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