Mineral Wells, TX — April 1, 2025, Sandra Mendez was injured in a drunk driver accident at about 5 p.m. on U.S. Route 180 at Garrett Morris Parkway/F.M. 1821.
A preliminary accident report indicates a 2012 Nissan Altima rear-ended a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu at the intersection.
The driver of the Nissan was charged with intoxication assault after the crash, according to the report, while Chevrolet driver Sandra Mendez, 46, was seriously injured.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Palo Pinto County crash.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a rear-end collision leads to serious injuries and police suspect the driver was intoxicated, it raises a key question that often goes unanswered: Where did the drinking happen before the crash?
Authorities say the driver who caused the crash has been charged with intoxication assault. That tells us alcohol likely played a role, but it doesn’t tell us how that person got to the point of impairment. More often than not, that part of the story is overlooked.
In Texas, dram shop laws make it illegal for bars, restaurants or any licensed alcohol provider to serve someone who is obviously intoxicated. If they break that law and the person they overserve hurts someone, they can be held accountable; not just to provide answers to the people affected, but to help stop the same thing from happening again.
At 5 p.m., it’s reasonable to ask whether the driver had just come from a bar or restaurant and whether that business followed the law. Did they ignore signs that their customer had already had too much to drink?
Finding out where the driver was drinking isn’t a minor detail: it’s a critical step toward understanding the full picture. And from where I sit, a crash investigation isn’t complete until someone answers that question. That’s how we make sure those affected get the answers they deserve, and how we help prevent future alcohol-related crashes.
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