Kyle Colley Injured in Car Accident on US-82 in Archer County, TX
Archer County, TX -- March 27, 2022, 29-year-old Kyle Colley was seriously injured in a car accident on U.S. Highway 82 in Archer County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 4:10 a.m. on US-82 near mile marker 506. Preliminary investigation suggests Colley was driving a Volkswagen Passat east on the highway when he reportedly drifted off the road to the south. He hit the rumble strips and over-corrected course, causing the VM to drive through the center median and hit an embankment with its front bumper.
The car overturned and rolled three times before landing upright in the median. Pieces of the vehicle shed during the crash flew across the road and hit a westbound Chevrolet Silverado pickup.
Colley was ejected during the rollover crash and suffered serious injuries. Neither of the Chevy's occupants were injured by the flying debris.
Tests conducted at the hospital showed Colley had a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of .236 at the time of the crash. Reports say he also tested positive for drugs.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Kyle Colley Accident on US-82 in Archer County
These are clearly some serious allegations, and evidence pointing to a driver being intoxicated in any way is typically followed by legal consequences. When alcohol is one of the intoxicants, though, people are often surprised to learn that someone besides the driver may need to be held accountable for their role in the accident. A unique area of Texas law deals with the idea that a local business may be liable for a DWI crash victim's injuries--even when the victim is the driver himself.
That area of the law is called dram shop law, which basically says that a licensed alcohol provider who over-serves an obviously intoxicated person may be liable for damages resulting from that intoxication. We've litigated more of these cases than just about any other firm in the state, and we've learned over many years just how crucial this area of the law truly is. Not only does it help to ensure negligent businesses face consequences for their reckless and illegal over-service, it also helps to ensure victims and families get the help they deserve after being hurt by that recklessness. As noted those victims can include the DWI drivers themselves, since they too can suffer major harm while under the effects of a bar's negligence.
It's not clear from reports where the victim might have gotten his intoxicants, but officers do note that both drugs and alcohol are suspected to be involved. To that end, they should find out where both came from to ensure that all those who played a part in injuring the victim are held accountable.
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