Passenger Injured in Single-Vehicle Accident on Freeport Pkwy in Grapevine, TX
Grapevine, TX -- December 19, 2021, an 18-year-old woman was injured in a single-vehicle accident on Freeport Parkway in Grapevine.
Authorities say the incident happened around 5:00 a.m. on Freeport Pkwy near Corporate Drive. Preliminary investigation suggests 18-year-old Spencer Green was driving a BMW coupe east on the 4000 block of Freeport Pkwy when he reportedly lost control and struck the right curb. The car then ran off the road and hit a nearby circuit breaker box. It overturned and rolled several times before coming to rest in the grass.
One of the car's passengers suffered serious injuries in the accident. Green and the other passenger received possible injuries.
Reports say all three of the car's occupants left the scene on foot and two were located a short time later. The second passenger was not found with them.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Single-Vehicle Accident on Freeport Pkwy in Grapevine
To be clear, I read the same reports as anyone else. Investigators mentioned alcohol as a possible factor here, but they didn't confirm it. That's an important distinction to make before anyone goes off the rails blaming the young driver for something he might not even have done.
Even if alcohol was a factor, as much as that would warrant criticisms, it would be just as concerning to think that an 18-year-old got his hands on some. I'm not naive enough to think it's impossible for an underage party to drink, but it's a troubling possibility that some irresponsible local business sold the alcohol directly to the driver. That could result in some serious consequences--for serving alcohol to a minor, obviously, but for other reasons as well.
Most everyone knows that a business would be in hot water if it's caught selling or serving alcohol to someone who's under 21. However, fewer people know those businesses can also be liable for someone's injuries if they were hurt due to the underage customer's intoxication. Dram shop law says that establishments can be held accountable if someone they over-served hurts themselves or others.
Sadly there's no shortage of stories about young drivers not getting carded at stores or strolling into bars and getting much too drunk, then getting into major car accidents. That's why things like dram shop exist. Even if the victim made a mistake here, the law appreciates the need for them to face their own consequences while still deserving whatever help they can get. Dram shop could be an avenue to get that help, but it will depend on what all led to this crash to determine if those avenues are available.
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