Twila Melanie Reynaud, Man Injured in Car Accident in Athens, TX
Athens, TX -- December 3, 2022, Twila Melanie Reynaud and another person were injured after an accident between two vehicles.
Authorities said they were called to the intersection of East Tyler Street and North Morrison Street at around 6:00 p.m.
Initial details say that 52-year-old Twila Melanie Reynaud was a passenger in a Ford F-250 traveling westbound along Tyler. The driver merged toward the center turn lane where it crashed into a Toyota Rav4 which had apparently been speeding in the turn lane, police say.
Reynaud and the driver of the Toyota had injuries said to be incapacitating. The driver of the vehicle Reynaud was in wasn't hurt. Police said the Toyota driver may have been under the influence of alcohol, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Commentary on Twila Melanie Reynaud Car Accident in Athens
Any mention of alcohol is incredibly concerning, but it's important to consider what may come next for the victims and families with something like that. People may think it's all pretty open-and-shut, but it may surprise them to learn there is often a local bar liable for crashes like this. This is due to dram shop law.
Essentially, dram shop law says that an alcohol provider who over-serves an obviously intoxicated person can be liable for damages resulting from that intoxication. Whether that's a bar, liquor store, restaurant, or even a grocery store, businesses that serve an intoxicated person bear responsibility for the resulting harm that causes. This helps to ensure that both drunk drivers and negligent businesses are held accountable while also giving families a much needed opportunity to seek assistance for their burdens.
I can't say whether or not that happened here without clear evidence, but I know from experience how important it is to investigate as soon as possible.
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