A crash early Sunday morning, May 19, claimed two lives and left others seriously injured on the Dallas North Tollway. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the collision occurred at 4:34 a.m., when a 2020 Dodge Durango was allegedly driving the wrong way in the southbound lanes and collided head-on with a 2018 Mercedes CLA250. The driver of the Mercedes died at the scene, and one of the passengers later died at Dallas Presbyterian Hospital. Another passenger remains hospitalized in critical condition. The driver of the Durango, who was also injured, is suspected of intoxication.
Whenever I hear about a wrong-way crash like this in the early morning hours, I think about what happened leading up to the accident. In this case, since intoxication is suspected, it’s worth examining whether a business overserved the driver before the crash.
Did a Bar or Alcohol Provider Overserve the Driver?
In Texas, bars and alcohol-serving establishments can be held liable under the Dram Shop Act if they serve alcohol to a person who is obviously intoxicated to the point that they pose a clear danger to themselves or others and later cause harm. That’s why, in cases like this, it’s important to ask where the driver was coming from before getting on the tollway. Were they drinking at a bar, restaurant, or private event? Did anyone continue serving them even after clear signs of intoxication?
Investigators should work to uncover the driver’s movements in the hours before the crash, review any available receipts, surveillance footage, or witness statements, and determine whether a business may have played a role in enabling this fatal incident.
What Information Is Needed to Answer These Questions?
To establish the full story, investigators should request toxicology reports, obtain cell phone data, and review any nearby surveillance footage that could show where the driver came from. If alcohol service occurred at a licensed establishment, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) may also need to review whether staff followed proper protocols.
Why These Investigations Are So Important
From my experience handling dram shop cases across Texas, I’ve seen firsthand how lives are forever changed by one reckless decision. While figuring out whether the driver was allegedly intoxicated is a necessary first step, that alone doesn’t explain how the crash happened. A full investigation is the only way to make sure every contributing factor is identified, every question is answered, and those affected by this crash understand what really happened.