Child Killed in Hit-and-Run on Gun Barrel Lane in Gun Barrel City, TX
Gun Barrel City, TX — July 27, 2022, a young boy was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on South Gun Barrel Lane in Gun Barrel City.
According to reports the incident happened just after 2:00 a.m. in the area of South Gun Barrel Lane and Stillwater Street. Preliminary investigation suggests 30-year-old Casey Jeffrey was driving in the area, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, when he struck and fatally injured the juvenile male. He then fled the scene and went to a home on Harmon Road. Police located him there a short time later and took him into custody.
Jeffrey was booked into county jail on an intoxication manslaughter charge.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Hit-and-Run in Gun Barrel City
It's always frustrating to learn of another hit-and-run on Texas roads, so it's at least something of a relief to see that the suspect was quickly apprehended. Police seem to think he was intoxicated when he struck that poor boy and then fled the scene; if that's true some may think it only means he'll face related charges, but under Texas dram shop law there may be another party to hold responsible for the damage done.
Essentially dram shop law says that a licensed alcohol provider who over-serves an obviously intoxicated person may be liable for injuries that person causes while intoxicated. That means bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and other businesses can be held legally accountable when they keep selling drinks to customers who then cause terrible accidents like this one.
Dram shop claims serve the dual purposes of ensuring bad bars face serious consequences and making sure they make what amends they can to the people hurt by their negligence. Despite how important both goals are, though, police rarely look into dram violations. That's why it's often necessary to have independent investigators look into these accidents rather than waiting for police to sort things out.
For the sake of those affected by this crash, the sooner someone looks into what exactly led to it the sooner there can be some useful answers. Any further steps would largely depend on what those answers turn out to be.
