Melissa Boehl, Cynthia Shepheard Killed, Ashley Ramos, Derek Reyes, 2 Injured in Alleged Drunk Driving Accident in San Antonio, TX
UPDATE (February 4, 2022): Reports identified victims involved in the crash. The pedestrian was identified as 43-year-old Melissa Boehl, and the deceased passenger as 42-year-old Cynthia Shepheard. The driver of Shepheard's vehicle and another passenger were possibly injured. Derek Reyes had reportedly non-incapacitating injuries while his passenger had reportedly serious injuries. Right now, Reyes reportedly faces two counts of intoxication manslaughter as well as an intoxication assault charge. No further information is available at this time.
UPDATE (January 19, 2022): Recent reports confirmed that another woman was killed in the crash. The 42-year-old woman riding in the second vehicle hit sustained critical injuries and later died at the hospital. Police arrested the first driver, identified as Derek Reyes, for intoxication manslaughter. Additional details are unavailable at this time.
San Antonio, TX -- January 17, 2022, a woman was killed as the result of an accident where a possibly drunk driver caused a wreck at Fredericksburg Road.
Authorities reported that the collision took place at around 7:00 p.m. along Northwest Loop 410 at Fredericksburg Road.
In their reports, officials said that a woman was on foot near the crosswalk when a driver crashed with another vehicle, pushing it into the woman. That woman later died.
Police say the driver that alcohol may have been a factor in the collision, but that remains under investigation.
Commentary on Melissa Boehl, Cynthia Shepheard Alleged Drunk Driving Accident at Fredericksburg Road in San Antonio
After a tragedy like this, police would no doubt look into alcohol just as standard procedure. The fact they arrested someone for suspicion of intoxicated driving only raises more red flags. My concern is if all the contributing factors here are getting the attention they deserve. Folks tend to think that the driver faces charges and that's the end of it. Something I always try to inform people about is that drunk driving accidents often involve an accomplice that police efforts alone rarely address. Letting them get away with contributing two people losing their lives would simply be unacceptable.
Here's what I mean by that. In Texas, alcohol providers such as bars and restaurants can be liable when they contribute to a deadly accident. Dram shop law says that an alcohol provider who over-serves an obviously intoxicated person can be liable for damages resulting from that intoxication. So if someone is on their way home after drinking too much at dinner, and the evidence shows the restaurant they were at illegally over-served them, then both the drunk driver and the establishment that recklessly over-served them can be held responsible for their roles in the victim's injuries.
I'm not saying that happened here, considering the investigations are still in their early stages. I bring this up because, as I said, it's something I too often see the authorities overlook. Time after time, families come to me about deadly accidents without any clue that there could be some local business out there that played a role in their hardships. Once they hear that there are remedies like dram shop available, they want to see the appropriate parties held accountable for their actions. Are steps being taken to make sure there is accountability for this woman's death?
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