• December 08, 2022

Pedestrian Alvaro Collao Injured by Alleged DWI Driver in Harris County, TX

Houston, TX — November 29, 2022, 28-year-old pedestrian Alvaro Collao was struck and injured by an alleged DWI driver in Harris County.

Authorities say the incident happened around 1:35 p.m. on Hammerly Boulevard near Hoskins Drive. Preliminary investigation suggests 72-year-old Jerald Futch was driving a Ford F-150 pickup east on the roadway as Collao was allegedly running west nearby. Futch reportedly drifted to the right, then hit a curb, a fire hydrant, and Collao.

Collao suffered serious injuries in the accident. Futch received minor injuries; investigators suspected he was under the influence of alcohol and Harris County officials later charged him with intoxication assault.

No further information is available at this time.

Commentary on Alvaro Collao Accident in Harris County

Something too often overlooked after a drunk driver hurts someone in Texas is where their alcohol came from. Some may not see the need to learn that, but it's more important than they realize: If a business over-served him alcohol before the accident, it may have a legal duty to help the crash victim get back on their feet due to dram shop law.

In a nutshell, dram shop law prohibits licensed alcohol vendors (bars, clubs, restaurants, stores, etc) from selling or serving alcohol to obviously intoxicated customers. If they do so illegally and their customers cause injuries while under the influence, the business may be considered liable for the harm done.

I'm not saying for certain that a dram shop violation happened here, but did the authorities even look into it? Little as I like to say it, my guess would be no. Law enforcement doesn't spend much time tracking down negligent over-service, content instead to punish the drunk drivers it produces. That's why dram shop matters are most often dealt with by independent investigators; their careful attention to detail may find no violations occurred, but they could also be a step toward getting the victim the help they need and deserve.

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