Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash on Tomball Pkwy in Harris County, TX
Harris County, TX — June 17, 2022, a 29-year-old man was seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident on Tomball Parkway in Harris County.
According to reports the incident happened around 10:05 p.m. on Tomball Parkway near Northpointe Boulevard. Preliminary investigation suggests the victim was driving a Toyota Tundra pickup truck south on the roadway, weaving through traffic at high speeds according to witnesses, when he lost control and hit the center median. The pickup rolled over the median and flipped onto its roof, coming to rest in the northbound lanes.
The driver suffered serious injuries in the wreck. Investigators suspected he was intoxicated at the time and drew blood samples for testing.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Auto Accident on Tomball Pkwy in Harris County
It's obviously concerning that police brought up alcohol as a possible factor here, though to be very clear that should be treated as the theory it is unless clear evidence (like blood test results) say otherwise. In the meantime it's best not to jump to any conclusions just because impairment is one possible explanation.
Beyond that, it's important to realize that even if the driver is found to have been drunk that may not be the whole story. People sometimes come down hard on intoxicated drivers, but rarely take a moment to think about who helped them get intoxicated in the first place. That detail is far more important than folks realize.
Texas dram shop law says that a licensed alcohol provider (bar, club, restaurant, store, etc) that over-serves an obviously intoxicated person may be liable for injuries that person causes--even to himself--while under the influence. I've been called many times by people hurt in DWI wrecks, and most of them weren't aware of their rights under dram shop law. When I explain that law-breaking alcohol vendors can and should face consequences for the part they played in hurting someone, the victims and families who contact the firm tend to agree wholeheartedly.
Again, intoxication is just one possibility here. However, it deserves thorough investigation--including where it came from. Unfortunately police rarely look for dram violations, despite the damage bars can cause to a community by recklessly refilling their customers' glasses long past the point of no return. If such a business should be held accountable for the victim's injuries in Harris County, getting independent investigators to look into it may be the best course of action.
