Peggy Royce Killed in Auto Accident on Loop 820 in Hurst, TX
UPDATE (June 27, 2022): Sources have identified the person killed in this accident as 57-year-old Peggy Royce.
Hurst, TX — June 20, 2022, one person died and another was hurt when a pickup truck hit their motorcycle on North Loop 820 in Hurst.
According to reports the incident happened shortly before 12:40 p.m. along North Loop 820 near Pipeline Road. Preliminary investigation suggests a motorcycle with two riders was stopped for traffic in the roadway when a pickup truck approached from behind and crashed into it.
The motorcycle's operator was killed in the crash. A passenger on the bike was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say the truck driver, 72-year-old Richard Wittie, was arrested at the scene on potential charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Peggy Royce Accident on Loop 820 in Hurst
It's always serious to learn that intoxication is a suspected factor in an accident. More work is needed before anyone could say exactly how much of a role alcohol played, but if evidence shows the suspect's intoxication was a major contributor to the wreck then that may have implications people don't always know about. For one thing, the people affected by the collision should know about Texas dram shop law.
In a nutshell dram shop law prohibits licensed alcohol vendors (bars, restaurants, liquor and convenience stores, etc) from selling or serving alcohol to obviously intoxicated customers. If such a business over-serves its customers and they cause or suffer injuries while under the influence, that business may be legally accountable for the damage done. Victims and families are then able to confront the business in court and make it answer for its negligence.
It seems like alcohol's involvement hasn't been proven yet in the Hurst crash even if it's strongly suspected. While I mention dram shop law here, I'm not claiming to know it was violated before the wreck. It's just an important detail that too often gets overlooked during a DWI investigation. If a local business broke the law and people suffered as a result, that business should be held properly accountable and make whatever amends it can.
