Cauy Russel Routh Killed, 1 Injured in Car Accident on FM 1023 in Uvalde County, TX
Uvalde County, TX -- January 9, 2022, Cauy Russel Routh was killed and one person was injured after an accident where their vehicle crashed off-road.
Authorities reported that the crash took place at around 1:22 a.m. along FM 1023 at FM 2369.
Investigators said that 21-year-old Cauy Russel Routh was in a Dodge Ram 2500 traveling northbound on FM 1023. At FM 2369, police believe that the pickup was going at unsafe speeds and went through the intersection, running off-road and overturning across a railroad track.
Routh sustained fatal injuries due to the crash. A 22-year-old woman in the vehicle was able to flag someone down for help. She had reportedly incapacitating injuries. The passenger reportedly told police that she and Routh had been drinking at a local bar. This and other possible factors are still under investigation.
Commentary on Cauy Russel Routh Car Accident in Uvalde County
It's incredibly significant that reports bring up a bar being involved here. Something authorities often overlook is the role that alcohol providers play in deadly accidents. Obviously, no one is going to excuse someone for getting behind the wheel drunk. But folks should care just as much about an establishment that puts its business above the law and the safety of their community. That's why it's important to understand dram shop law and the help that it can get victims and families involved in crashes like this the help they need.
Put simply, dram shop law says that an alcohol provider who over-serves an obviously intoxicated person can be liable for damages resulting from that intoxication. It recognizes that businesses handling their product irresponsibly need to be held accountable for doing so. While intoxicated drivers may face consequences of their own, ensuring the negligent alcohol providers face consequences can both be of significant help to the victims and families while also making sure the business cleans up its act before they cause more harm.
Just to be clear, I am not saying that alcohol was a factor here or that dram shop necessarily applies. I can only speak on what's available in the reports and how that aligns with similar incidents families have come to me with over the years. In a situation like this, where authorities believe there is a bar involved, it would be irresponsible not to find out if they played a role in all of this. Not only are there people in need of help, there's a man's loved ones left behind who deserve to know they're getting the full story.
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