Smith County, TX — May 17, 2025, Stacey Anne Perez was killed in an alleged drunk driver accident at about 12:20 a.m. on State Highway 31.
A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2022 Mazda CX-30 was headed west near Surrey Trail when it crashed into an eastbound 2016 Honda Civic.
Honda driver Stacey Anne Perez, 25, died in the crash near the Tyler city limits, according to the report.
The Mazda driver, who was seriously injured in the crash, was charged with driving while intoxicated, the report states.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Smith County crash.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When I read about incidents like this one, what stands out to me isn’t just what happened, but what’s missing from the conversation. An early morning crash involving an allegedly intoxicated driver is undeniably serious, but beyond the criminal charge, there’s a broader accountability question that often gets overlooked: where did the alcohol come from, and should someone have stopped serving it?
In Texas, dram shop law was designed for exactly this kind of situation. If an establishment overserved the driver when they were already showing signs of intoxication, that business could share responsibility for what followed. This isn’t about blaming bars or restaurants unfairly; it’s about making sure that everyone who contributes to a dangerous situation is held to account. Especially in cases like this, where a life was lost, it’s worth asking whether the driver was drinking at a licensed alcohol provider beforehand. And if so, whether that provider followed the law.
The big picture here is one of awareness. Most people don’t realize that under Texas law, injured parties and families may have the right to pursue claims against negligent alcohol providers. But that kind of investigation usually doesn’t happen unless someone knows to ask for it. Local authorities do important work, but they’re not always equipped to dig into the commercial side of an alleged drunk driving crash.
That’s why these questions matter; not just for justice, but for prevention. Because if an establishment played a role in enabling this behavior, that deserves a closer look.
Three key points to keep in mind:
- One of the most important but often overlooked questions in cases like this is, “Where did the driver get their alcohol?”
- Dram shop law gives victims and families a tool to investigate whether a business contributed to the crash by overserving.
- These cases aren’t automatic; someone has to take the step to ask questions most people don’t even realize they’re allowed to ask.
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