Gary McSperitt Killed, Mary McSperitt Injured in Rollover Accident in Wheeler County, TX
Wheeler County, TX -- October 26, 2020, Gary McSperitty was killed and Mary McSperitt was injured following an accident where their vehicle overturned.
Investigators reported that the crash happened at around 2:40 p.m. near mile marker 173 of eastbound I-40.
Police allege that 67-year-old Gary McSperitt was driving while under the influence of alcohol. McSperitt's pickup lost control and ran off the side of the road. It then overturned across the service road.
Gary McSperitt succumbed to fatal injuries. 69-year-old Mary McSperitt had reportedly non-incapacitating injuries. Right now, additional details are unavailable.
Commentary on Gary McSperitt , Mary McSperitt Rollover Accident Wheeler County
The last thing I want to do is jump to conclusions, so without a more thorough report, these claims from police are no more than allegations. With that said, I talk to a lot of people who were affected by crashes like this. They're obviously facing a devastating path forward, and it's understandable they'd want to know what, if anything, can be done. Well, when alcohol contributes to a deadly crash, the answer can be rather complex.
Texas has a unique area of the law called Dram Shop Law. It basically says that an alcohol provider who over-serves an obviously intoxicated person can be liable for damages resulting from that intoxication. If a business is over-serving its customers, it's doing so with no regard for their safety or the safety of others. That's why our laws give victims and families the tools to hold those businesses accountable for their actions, and that can be a vital source of assistance for victims and families.
So again, I would never jump to conclusions about a crash based solely on preliminary reports. Still, if alcohol did contribute to the crash, the possibility of an outside party being responsible for that is too concerning to ignore. That's why there should always be a thorough investigation following a serious accident. If nothing else, those affected by the crash deserve all the facts.
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