El Paso, TX — May 11, 2024, two teenagers and a man were injured following an alleged drunk driver accident around 11:30 p.m. on Dyer Street.
Authorities said in preliminary statements that the accident happened at the intersection of Dyer Street and Sanders Avenue.
Investigators said that a 17-year-old Chaparral, New Mexico, boy and a 16-year-old girl were in a westbound Ford F-150 crossing over Dyer, reportedly with a green light. While crossing, it appears a southbound Chevy Suburban ran the light and crashed into the side of the Ford. As a result, both teens and the driver of the Chevy reportedly sustained serious injuries.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
In their statements, authorities alleged that the Chevy driver had been drinking. If that’s true, where did that alcohol come from? Oftentimes, holding a drunk driver responsible for an accident is only part of the whole story. There’s usually an accomplice who also needs to be held accountable: a bar.
Put simply, it’s illegal for bars and other alcohol providers to serve someone who’s obviously intoxicated. Doing so can open up those establishments to criminal investigations, fines, license suspensions, and potentially even liability for any resulting injuries. Despite this, it’s not something authorities pay much attention to. I’ve handled hundreds of cases against negligent alcohol providers. I can recall few times if ever where authorities investigated those providers unless we happened to bring the matter to their attention directly.
At the end of the day, would any reasonable person think it’s okay to let someone off the hook for breaking the law and getting people seriously hurt? Of course not. Texas law agrees, but it’s only as effective as those who will use those laws to see there are proper consequences after a crash like this. Authorities apparently recommended charges against the alleged drunk driver here. Did their investigations stop there, or did the victims’ families get clear answers about who all is responsible for this?
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