Two people were killed and three others were injured early Friday morning in a wrong-way crash involving multiple vehicles on Highway 281 near north Edinburg, Texas.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred just south of FM 1017 and involved four vehicles. Authorities allege that a Chevy Malibu traveling the wrong way triggered a chain-reaction crash that ended with a white Freightliner truck striking a vehicle occupied by 32-year-old Mark Anthony Alvarez and his 4-year-old son, John Andrew Escamilla. Both were killed. A mother and her child in another vehicle were also injured and remain hospitalized in stable condition.
The wrong-way driver, who is in critical condition, has not been formally charged, but investigators say they found beer cans in the vehicle and suspect alcohol played a role. Bloodwork results are pending as the investigation continues.
When I see a crash involving alcohol, I think about the full chain of events that led up to it—and whether someone else, beyond the driver, contributed to what happened. In my experience, that’s the core of any meaningful investigation in a case like this.
Could a Bar or Alcohol Provider Be Liable Under Texas Dram Shop Law?
Texas law allows for dram shop liability when an alcohol provider serves someone who is obviously intoxicated, and that person goes on to cause harm. In this case, if the driver of the Chevy Malibu had been drinking at a bar or restaurant before the crash, investigators may need to determine whether that business continued to serve them after they showed signs of impairment.
Establishing where the driver had been drinking, who served them, and how impaired they appeared can be essential to understanding the full picture. Dram shop cases often hinge on witness statements, receipts, surveillance footage, and toxicology results.
What Evidence Should Be Collected?
To determine whether a dram shop violation occurred, investigators will need to look at more than just the crash scene. They should examine the driver’s blood alcohol content, establish where and when the driver consumed alcohol, and gather any receipts, surveillance footage, or social media posts that might place the driver at a bar or restaurant beforehand. Witness accounts from anyone who may have observed the driver’s condition while drinking are also critical.
Why a Thorough Investigation Is So Important
Accidents like this can be complicated, especially when they involve alleged drunk driving. In my experience, the most important step to understanding why it happened is uncovering all the facts. If a business contributed to the chain of events by serving someone who should have been cut off, that deserves just as much scrutiny as the crash itself. A thorough investigation is the only way to provide answers to those affected.