Maria Garza, Vicente Ramirez, 3 Injured in Possible Drunk Driver Accident in Center, TX
Center, TX -- May 21, 2022, Maria Garza, Vicente Ramirez, and three others were hurt due to an accident possibly involving a drunk driver.
In their reports, authorities said that the crash happened just before 11:00 p.m. along Loop 500 off the intersection of Louisiana Street.
Preliminary reports said that 36-year-old Vicente Ramirez was driving a Toyota Tundra southbound on Loop 500. An oncoming Ford F-250 reportedly left its lane and crashed into another F-250 that was southbound. The first pickup then hit Ramirez's vehicle, causing it to overturn.
Ramirez and three passengers (including two children) were said to either be possibly injured or have non-incapacitating injuries. Another passenger, identified as Maria Garza, was said to have incapacitating injuries.
Police officials allege that the first Ford driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time. They reportedly arrested that driver. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Maria Garza, Vicente Ramirez Car Accident in Center
With a situation like this, folks may think that everything is pretty open-and-shut. Authorities say they arrested someone for drunk driving, so they're clearly at fault, right? Well, that may be, but there also may be more to the situation authorities aren't properly addressing. I have folks call me almost everyday with similar situations, and in almost every case, no one bothered to find out where the drunk driver got their alcohol. Here's why that's so important.
Texas dram shop law says that an alcohol provider who over-serves an obviously intoxicated person can be liable for damages resulting from that intoxication. If there's a local bar illegally serving people to the point they're causing serious accidents, that establishment isn't likely to clean up their act unless it truly affects them. Dram shop gives people the tools both to get the help they need and to send a clear message to those negligent businesses that there's no place in our communities for establishments that can't follow the rules.
Maybe nothing like that happened here, but it's important to consider any potential avenue following a serious wreck, especially if it can be a source of help for victims and their families. Since it's not the kind of thing authorities always look into, perhaps more thorough independent investigations would prove more prudent here.
[jump]
