A 19-year-old man was seriously injured Wednesday evening after a head-on collision on Guilbeau Road in San Antonio’s Northwest Side.
According to reports, the crash happened shortly after 6 p.m. when a 37-year-old woman driving a white Volkswagen Beetle abruptly changed lanes and clipped a westbound 2013 Kia Forte. The impact caused her to lose control and cross into oncoming traffic, where the Kia she initially struck collided head-on with a 2024 red Kia Forte driven by the 19-year-old. He was transported to the hospital and is expected to recover. San Antonio police state that once the woman recovers from her injuries, she will still face a charge of DWI-2nd.
When I see a report involving alleged intoxicated driving and serious injuries, I immediately begin thinking about whether a bar or other alcohol provider may have contributed to what happened. Under Texas law, if a business serves alcohol to someone who is obviously intoxicated and that person later causes harm, the business may share in the legal responsibility through what's known as a dram shop claim.
Did the Woman Visit a Bar or Restaurant Before the Accident?
If the woman in this crash was drinking at a licensed alcohol provider before getting behind the wheel, that business may share some responsibility if they served her while she was obviously intoxicated. That doesn’t mean someone merely had a few drinks—Texas law sets a specific standard. To bring a dram shop claim, there must be evidence showing the customer was obviously impaired when they were served, and that their intoxication played a role in causing the crash.
The timing of the wreck—just after 6 p.m.—could suggest she had been drinking at a bar or restaurant earlier in the evening. If that’s the case, it’s worth asking: Were there servers who ignored clear signs of intoxication? Did anyone continue to pour drinks when they should have cut her off? These are key questions that need to be answered.
What Evidence Would Support a Dram Shop Case?
Building a dram shop claim requires evidence showing where and when the driver was drinking, and whether they showed signs of being obviously intoxicated. This may include receipts, surveillance footage, witness testimony, or even social media posts. It's also important to look at the toxicology results from the crash—something investigators may already be reviewing.
Why Dram Shop Investigations Are So Important
Even when a DWI charge is filed, there are still unanswered questions that can have a major impact on understanding how a crash occurred. In this case, investigators will need to determine not just what happened on the road, but what events may have led up to it—especially if alcohol was a contributing factor. In my experience, the only way to get those answers is through a complete and careful investigation.