Pedestrian Injured in Alleged DWI Accident on I-35 at Taft in Austin, TX
Austin, TX -- May 6, 2022, one person was injured following an accident where a possibly intoxicated driver hit a pedestrian along I-35.
Authorities said the incident happened off the I-35 service road near Taft Lane at around 4:00 a.m.
According to officials, a 28-year-old woman was walking through a parking lot when a vehicle pulling out of the parking lot after work hit the woman.
Due to the collision, the pedestrian had incapacitating injuries. Police allege that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Pedestrian, Alleged DWI Accident on I-35 at Taft in Austin
These are obviously serious allegations, and one should expect drivers to be even more aware of pedestrian near them in a parking lot, of all places. But what really stands out to me is not just the allegations of the driver being drunk but that the driver was just getting off work. There are some restaurants in this area, and I can't help wondering if some business is allowing people to drink on the job.
Not only could there be serious consequences for the driver, there could also be serious consequences for their employer. Alternatively, the driver may have gone for drinks nearby his workplace after his shift. That could then bring up the possibility of dram shop law which says establishments can be liable if they over-serve someone whose intoxication then causes an accident. One way or another, this is far from some run-of-the-mill accident. There may be complex factors here that will surely require more thorough investigations to address.
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