El Paso, TX — October 18, 2024, an 18-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on Country Club Road in El Paso.
According to authorities, the incident happened around 12:35 a.m. on the 600 block of Country Club at Montoya Drive. Preliminary investigation suggests the victim was riding in a vehicle when he allegedly tried to exit from a rear passenger door. Investigators say he lost his balance when exiting the car and fell into the road; moments later he was hit by an eastbound Ford Fusion.
The teenager was fatally injured in the collision. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is currently available.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Investigators mentioned a belief that the young man may have fallen down when exiting the car because he was intoxicated. I don’t have information to say whether that’s right or wrong, but if so it raises some troubling questions. The victim was too young to obtain alcohol legally, so if evidence confirms the officer’s suspicion then it’s important to find out where the drinks came from.
With only a few exceptions, any adult providing alcohol to a minor has legal repercussions coming—and any business selling to minors could face serious consequences of its own. It’s obviously illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age, but in addition to that any place that over-sold it to that teen may owe his family a lot more than an apology. Texas dram shop law says that a licensed alcohol vendor who sells or serves drinks to an obviously intoxicated customer may be liable for injuries that person causes or suffers while drunk.
To be clear, it doesn’t seem that authorities necessarily confirmed intoxication was a factor and I’m not pointing any fingers. Even if evidence of it is eventually found, that still doesn’t mean some careless business sold it to the victim. The alcohol’s source just seems like a matter worth investigating in case someone is much too casual about who can buy drinks from them. The most important thing is to get that teen’s loved ones some real answers. Will authorities deliver those, or should someone else step in?
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