A man was killed and a father and child were injured Friday night in a head-on crash on Atascocita Road in northeast Harris County. Authorities say alcohol may have been a contributing factor.
The crash occurred around 10:45 p.m. near the intersection of Atascocita Road and Wilson Road. According to Harris County officials, a westbound SUV lost control while navigating a curve, crossed into the eastbound lanes, and collided with an oncoming pickup truck. The SUV driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The two people in the pickup, a father and his 8-year-old child, were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Deputies believe the SUV driver may have been drinking prior to the crash, and the investigation is ongoing.
When I hear about a crash where alcohol is suspected and someone loses their life, I think about the chain of events that may have led up to it. In my experience, when a person is allegedly drunk before getting behind the wheel, it’s often because a business failed to follow the law. A thorough investigation is the only way to find out where that person was allegedly drinking, how impaired they were, and whether a dram shop violation may have occurred.
Could a Bar or Alcohol Provider Have Played a Role in This Crash?
Under Texas law, alcohol providers can be held liable if they serve someone who is obviously intoxicated and that person later causes harm. In this case, if the SUV driver had been drinking at a bar or restaurant before the crash, it’s important to find out whether that establishment ignored visible signs of intoxication and continued to serve them anyway.
Dram shop liability doesn’t depend on whether someone had just a few drinks—it’s about whether they were obviously impaired at the time of service. That determination requires specific evidence.
What Evidence Should Be Collected?
To determine whether dram shop liability may apply, investigators should establish where the SUV driver was allegedly drinking and how much alcohol they consumed. That includes gathering receipts, surveillance footage from any bar or restaurant they visited, and interviewing witnesses who may have observed the driver’s condition.
Toxicology results will also be key. If they show a high blood alcohol concentration, it may indicate that the driver was obviously intoxicated while still being served. A timeline that connects the drinking establishment to the crash is critical to building a clear picture of what occurred.
Why a Thorough Investigation Is Critical
When alcohol may have played a role in a deadly crash, the focus naturally turns to the driver—but from my experience, that’s not always the full story. A careful investigation is needed to determine whether someone else, like an alcohol provider, helped set the events in motion by serving an obviously impaired person. It’s the best way to provide clear answers to the people affected and ensure that every contributing factor is understood.