William Lackey Injured in Auto Accident on TX-71 in Burnet County
Burnet County, TX — June 13, 2022, 29-year-old William Lackey was seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident on State Highway 71 in Burnet County.
According to reports the incident happened around 2:15 p.m. on TX-71 near Twisted Oak Drive. Preliminary investigation suggests Lackey was driving a Chevrolet pickup west on the highway in a manner witnesses said was reckless, allegedly weaving between lanes and driving on the wrong side of the road.
Lackey finally drove through the eastbound lane and through the south ditch, then drove down an embankment. The pickup crashed through a wire fence and passed through a dry creek bed, then hit a second fence on the other side and came to rest.
Lackey suffered serious injuries in the crash. Investigators reported smelling alcohol on his breath and finding open containers in his vehicle. Blood samples were collected for testing.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on William Lackey Accident in Burnet County
Police suspect the victim who crashed was impaired. If blood tests confirm that some may feel there's not much else to say about it aside from maybe charging him accordingly, but they may not realize there are other aspects of DWI accidents to investigate. For instance, police should also find out where the victim's alcohol came from that day and the circumstances in which he bought it. But why?
Texas and many other states broaden the responsibility for DWI wrecks beyond the drivers to sometimes include the businesses that sold or served them drinks. If further investigations find a licensed alcohol vendor provided more alcohol to the victim when he was obviously intoxicated, that business may be responsible for his injuries under dram shop law. It would then be legally obligated to help him get back on his feet.
Dram shop law was created to ensure negligent over-service is met with appropriate consequences. Not every DWI wreck starts with a dram violation, but they're more common than people think and they should be dealt with swiftly in case a business is endangering its community. Will the authorities look into a possible dram violation here, or would an independent investigation better ensure the victim gets the help he deserves?
