Four Injured in Crossover Accident on Highway 173 in Medina County, TX
Medina County, TX — May 7, 2022, a 43-year-old man and his three passengers were injured in a collision with a commercial truck on State Highway 173 in Medina County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 3:25 p.m. on TX-173 near mile marker 508. Preliminary investigation suggests a Buick sedan was traveling south on the highway as a Peterbilt tractor-trailer was northbound nearby on the other side.
According to reports the Buick driver, who may have been under the influence of intoxicants, crossed left of center into the northbound lane. The truck driver moved onto the shoulder to try and avoid a collision but the car continued through the lane and hit it.
After the impact the Buick spun around and came to rest in the southbound lane. The truck ran off the road and through a fence, then jackknifed and came to a stop on private property.
The Buick's driver and an infant in the vehicle suffered serious injuries in the crash. Two women ages 35 and 27 received minor injuries. The truck driver was unhurt.
Investigators believed the Buick driver was intoxicated and noted plans to subpoena his treatment records for a DWI investigation.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Crossover Accident on TX-173 in Medina County
It's important after crashes like this one not to simply assume preliminary reports have the full story. For example, police believe alcohol may have been a factor here. Even if the victim's treatment records show that's true, that may not really be the end of the matter. For instance, it's important to find out where his alcohol came from.
Dram shop law says a licensed alcohol vendor may be liable for a DWI crash victim's injuries if its negligent over-service contributed to the accident. Despite how serious that is and the dangers it can create, though, it's not something authorities typically include in their reports.
It's also troubling to think police might fixate so much on their impairment theories that they neglect other possibilities. Causes like mechanical issues, tire blowouts, medical emergencies, and road hazards aren't all that common, so authorities often overlook them entirely.
Would careful independent investigation show something unusual happened in Medina County? I couldn't say before one is conducted, but in the meantime I discourage jumping to any conclusions based only on preliminary findings.
