Jose Paulino Espinoza Killed in Single-Vehicle Rollover Accident in Centerville, TX
Centerville, TX -- October 31, 2020, Jose Paulino Espinoza was fatally injured due to an accident where Espinoza's vehicle overturned.
Investigators with the Texas DPS reported that the crash happened at around 5:00 a.m. off County Road 114 and County Road 146.
In their reports, officials said that 58-year-old Jose Paulino Espinoza was driving a Dodge Ram 2500 pulling a trailer along southeast on county Road 114. Police said that due to alcohol and unsafe speeds, the truck ran off-road and overturned.
Espinoza succumbed to fatal injuries as a result of the crash. It appears no one else was hurt. Police did not release any additional details about the crash.
Commentary on Jose Paulino Espinoza Rollover Accident in Centerville
If it's true that alcohol was a factor in this tragic event, then there needs to be an investigation into whether or not an outside party contributed to the crash. That may sound unusual, but there's a unique area of Texas law that often applies to alcohol-related crashes. According to Dram Shop Law, an alcohol provider who over-serves an obviously intoxicated person can be liable for damages resulting from that intoxication. If investigators find that a business like a bar over-served the victim, then that business can be held accountable for contributing to the victim's injuries or death. Sometimes at this time of the morning, investigations reveal someone was drinking the night before, and an establishment over-served them so recklessly they were still intoxicated hours later. I don't want to jump to conclusions here, but a man lost his life. Ensuring any complicit parties face consequences is an important step for any family affected by such a tragic event.
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