Coy Morris Killed in Motorcycle Accident on Veterans Memorial Blvd in Killeen, TX
Killeen, TX — June 10, 2022, 21-year-old Coy Morris was killed in a motorcycle accident on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Killeen.
According to reports the incident happened around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Veterans Memorial and Stringer Street. Preliminary investigation suggests a Honda motorcycle was eastbound in the inside lane of the roadway when a westbound Mercedes failed to yield at the Stringer intersection and turned into its path. The motorcycle hit the front of the car, ejecting Morris and his passenger.
Both riders suffered critical injuries and were taken to local hospitals. Morris was pronounced dead on June 13. The condition of his passenger is unknown.
The Mercedes driver was treated for minor injuries and arrested on a potential DWI charge.
The investigation continues. No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Coy Morris Accident on Veterans Memorial Blvd in Killeen
When police bring up alcohol that tends to set off alarm bells for people. To be clear, though, before DWI charges could stick hard proof of impairment would still have to be obtained. That usually takes the form of blood tests, and news reports didn't say whether samples were collected for those.
If they were and tests confirm the driver was drunk, things may get a little more complex for the victims and their families. Any opportunity to get them the help they need is important to consider, and alcohol-related crashes involve some unique consequences in that regard.
Texas dram shop law says that a licensed alcohol provider that sells or serves drinks to an obviously intoxicated customer may be liable for damages the customer causes while under the influence. If investigations show a bar, restaurant, store, or other vendor illegally over-served them, the people hurt by the intoxicated suspect may be able to hold that business accountable for contributing to the crash.
Some folks see those laws as excusing drunk drivers for their choices. That's simply not true. The actions of a drunk driver are matters of criminal law between them and authorities. Dram shop claims, a matter of civil law, are simply tools available to Texans to hold negligent alcohol providers accountable for their recklessness, which also gets many people the help they need with the hard road to recovery. That's why it's important to confirm whether alcohol was indeed a factor here, and if so where and how it was consumed.
