Officer Injured in Alleged DWI Accident on East Lancaster in Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, TX -- August 3, 2022, an officer was injured due to an accident where an allegedly intoxicated driver hit them on East Lancaster.
Investigators reported that the crash took place at around 11:15 p.m. along East Lancaster Avenue near Ayers Avenue.
Officials said that a Fort Worth Police officer was heading to an emergency call with lights activated. Another vehicle reportedly failed to yield, crashing into the police vehicle. This sent the police vehicle off-road where it then struck a tree. The other driver reportedly fled but was later apprehended.
Reports say the officer was taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries. Authorities allege that the other driver was intoxicated at the time and will face charges, including intoxication assault. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Officer Injured, Alleged DWI Accident on East Lancaster in Fort Worth
If the allegations here are true, that driver will no doubt have serious consequences to face. But are they the only ones responsible here? Something that's also important to consider is if a local alcohol provider contributed to these injuries. Dram shop law says bars and other venues can be liable if they over-serve someone who is obviously intoxicated, and that person's intoxication results in a crash. This is important to consider for several reasons.
One reason, quite simply, is accountability. If a business breaks the law, and people get hurt, why should they continue business as usual while everyone else bears the burden of their actions? Secondly, officers hurt by these drivers shouldn't have to rely solely on workers' comp to get the help they need, considering workers' comp rarely has their best interests in mind. Dram shop provides an opportunity to pursue assistance that may not otherwise be available following a typical accident.
That's why these reports likely only tell part of the larger story. Maybe there's nothing else to this crash, but experience tells me further investigations from professionals could lead to important information an injured officer and their family deserve to know.
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