Jesus Sisneros, Andrew Cehand Injured in Accident on Capital of Texas Hwy in Austin
UPDATE (March 10, 2021): The passenger in this crash has been identified as 25-year-old Andrew Cehand.
Austin, TX -- January 26, 2021, 24-year-old Jesus Sisneros and a passenger in his vehicle were seriously injured in a crash on Capital of Texas Highway in Austin.
Authorities say the incident happened around 5:00 a.m. at the "T" intersection of the highway (State Loop 360) and the North Mopac Expressway service road. Preliminary investigation suggests that Sisneros was driving a Kia Rio sedan eastward on Loop 360 and approached the dead-end intersection with the Mopac frontage road. A witness behind Sisneros' vehicle told investigators he ran several red lights as he approached the intersection but did not attempt to stop or slow down. The Kia passed through the lanes of the frontage road and collided directly with a concrete barrier lining the other side of the road.
Both occupants of the vehicle suffered critical injuries in the crash and were taken to an area hospital.
Investigators found that Sisneros' seat belt was fastened but was flush against the seat, suggesting it was fastened behind his back to silence the warnings from his vehicle. The passenger's seat belt was apparently used correctly, as its pretensioner was found to be broken.
Sisneros was later charged with Intoxication Assault.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Jesus Sisneros Accident on Loop 360 in Austin
Police seem quite certain that intoxication by alcohol was a big factor in this crash. Given the described circumstances I understand their suspicions, though as always that will need proof. If the results of the blood tests confirm alcohol use was behind the crash, Sisneros is likely to face some stiff charges for his choices that night.
Some may see that as more or less the end of the matter. However, alcohol-related crashes in Texas have additional factors that must be considered. For example, if certain criteria are met then any business that sold an excess of alcohol to Sisneros may also be legally responsible for his injuries and those of his passenger.
In Texas and several other states, dram shop law makes it illegal for alcohol providers to sell or serve more drinks to obviously intoxicated patrons. Doing so presents a clear and serious hazard both to their customers and to the public at large. Despite the dangers posed by drunk drivers, countless businesses routinely over-serve their customers to their hearts' content. When the night ends, they send those customers on their way to wreak havoc on the roads without a second thought.
Dram shop claims are one way to address this problem. By allowing injured victims to hold negligent establishments liable after an accident, dram shop law allows them to seek justice and teach bad bars a lesson while also providing them the means to seek much-needed assistance with their recovery. A drunk driver should certainly be held accountable for his bad decisions, but so too should the establishment that helped him get so intoxicated in the first place.
Not every drunk driving case involves a dram shop violation; a business must provably have over-served an obviously intoxicated patron, and that's not always the case. If Mr. Sisneros drank at home, for instance, then a dram shop violation most likely did not occur. However, the possibility merits investigation any time alcohol use is connected to serious injuries. If they're never held responsible for their negligent over-service, bad bars will never change their ways. That means the roads stay dangerous for everyone.
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