Aurelio Cazares-Frias, Ramona Barrios Killed by Alleged DWI Driver on State Hwy 66 in Garland, TX
UPDATE (January 18, 2023): Recent reports indicate that crash suspect Gustavo Huerta Jr. has been indicted on two counts of intoxication manslaughter in relation to this accident.
UPDATE (September 9, 2021): One of the victims of this crash has been identified as driver 49-year-old Mustang driver Aurelio Cazares-Frias. His passenger, 45-year-old Ramona Barrios, was also killed.
Garland, TX -- September 5, 2021, two people were killed when their car was rear-ended by a suspected DWI driver on State Highway 66 in Garland.
Authorities say the incident happened around 2:30 a.m. on westbound Highway 66 between East Centerville and Dexham roads. Preliminary investigation suggests driver Gustavo Huerta Jr. was traveling in a Cadillac Escalade on the highway when he rear-ended a Ford Mustang, pushing it into a concrete barrier. The car then overturned into a ditch and caught fire. The Cadillac continued westward a short distance before overturning and barrel-rolling several times. It came to rest approximately 600 feet from the point of impact.
The Mustang's two occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Huerta received minor injuries and remained at the scene after the collision. Investigators suspect he was intoxicated when he hit the car and obtained a warrant for a blood sample. Huerta was arrested on two counts of intoxication manslaughter.
No further information is currently available.
Recent reports suggest the suspect in this crash was indicted for intoxication-related crimes, and serious punishment may follow. Some may feel that more or less closes the book on this accident, but Texas dram shop law views the matter somewhat differently.
Dram shop law prohibits any alcohol-selling vendor from providing further drinks to an obviously intoxicated customer. If they continue serving such customers and then those people cause or suffer injuries while under the influence, the business that illegally over-served them may be partly responsible for the damage they do.
Not every DWI crash involves a dram shop violation, but the source of the drinks is important to find out when alcohol use and injuries may be tied together. Dram shop law grants victims and families the right to seek assistance with their recovery and hold reckless businesses accountable when they break the law with over-service. Despite its utility and necessity, though, police rarely look into potential dram violations. So will they consider that possibility here, or is this yet another situation where the victims' loved ones would be better served by independent investigations?
[jump]
