Victor Pena Killed, Selene Alvarado Injured in Wrong-Way Crash on TX-151 in San Antonio
San Antonio, TX — July 11, 2022, 39-year-old Victor Pena died and 34-year-old Selene Alvarado was injured in a wrong-way collision on Highway 151 South in West San Antonio.
According to reports the incident happened shortly before 2:00 a.m. on Highway 151 South near Callaghan Road. Preliminary investigation suggests Pena was driving a Dodge Nitro south in the highway's northbound lanes, against traffic, when he collided head-on with an oncoming Cadillac XTS.
Pena was pronounced dead at the scene. The Cadillac driver, later identified as Alvarado, suffered serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Victor Pena, Selene Alvarado Accident in San Antonio
A wrong-way crash will almost always raise some serious red flags--especially one around this time of night. It's unfortunately quite common for alcohol to lead to such crashes, and it's important to find out whether this was another such instance. Part of why that matters so much is that wrong-way drivers are often far beyond the legal limit for intoxication. I don't say that to speak ill of the man who lost his life, but it's possible an outside party's recklessness contributed to his death. If so, that party should be held accountable.
Texas dram shop law says that an alcohol provider which over-serves an obviously intoxicated person may be liable for injuries that person causes or suffers while under the influence. In the San Antonio crash, that could mean any business that poured too many for the wrong-way driver may have a legal duty to his family and the person he crashed into.
It boggles the mind to learn the lengths some businesses go just to make more sales. I've even investigated bars which literally served someone until they died of alcohol poisoning in the parking lot. Making sure those businesses are held accountable is almost as important getting the people they hurt the help they need. Dram shop is a way to do both.
So is that something authorities are looking into here? There may be other possible explanations for this crash, but any of them will still need close attention from experienced professionals. The sooner that's done, the sooner the people affected gets answers.
