• May 24, 2022

Fort Worth, TX -- May 12, 2022, 27-year-old Kayla McClure was seriously injured in a crash with an alleged DWI driver on Burton Hill Road in Fort Worth.

Authorities say the incident happened around 6:41 p.m. on Burton Hill at Santa Clara Drive. Preliminary investigation suggests 43-year-old Thomas Armstrong was driving a Jeep Liberty east on the roadway and began to turn left onto northbound Santa Clara. While turning Armstrong allegedly failed to yield to McClure's westbound Volkswagen Golf. The Jeep crossed in front of it and the two vehicles collided in the roadway.

McClure suffered serious injuries in the collision. Armstrong and a 5-year-old in his vehicle were unhurt.

Investigators noted a suspicion that Armstrong had consumed alcohol before the accident and collected blood samples for testing.

No further information is currently available.

Commentary on Kayla McClure Accident on Burton Hill Rd in Fort Worth

It's always concerning when investigators mention that alcohol may have played a role in a crash. It's important to look into that detail for a number of reasons; obviously it's dangerous for anyone to drive drunk, but beyond that there may be issues where a local business broke the law by selling or serving drinks in excess quantities to its customer. That's dealt with by dram shop law, under which any business that illegally over-serves its customers may be liable for the damage those customers cause or suffer while drunk. That would mean it then owes anyone hurt by its negligence some help with getting back on their feet.

Dram shop law was created to ensure negligent over-service is met with appropriate consequences. Not every DWI wreck starts with a dram violation, but they're more common than many people think and they should be dealt with swiftly if a bar is endangering the community. So will the authorities look into the possibility of such a violation here, or would an independent investigation better help the victim get the help and justice she deserves?

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