Brian Saenz Torres Injured in Auto Accident on McCombs St in El Paso, TX
El Paso, TX — October 8, 2022, 25-year-old Brian Saenz Torres was seriously injured in a crash with an alleged drunk driver on McCombs Street in El Paso.
Authorities say the incident happened around 2:45 a.m. on McCombs near Rheims Court. Preliminary investigation suggests a Kia Forte was traveling south on the roadway, allegedly swerving between lanes, when the driver veered left one more time and crashed into the rear passenger side of Saenz Torres' southbound Dodge Ram 1500. The impact sent both vehicles spinning through the northbound lanes, after which they crashed into a low rock wall near a residence.
Saenz Torres was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The Kia driver was reportedly unhurt. Investigators collected blood samples as part of a DWI investigation; test results later alleged she had a BAC around .157 at the time of the crash.
No further information is currently available.
Blood tests seem to confirm that one driver in this crash was intoxicated, and if that's accurate there may be some legal consequences for her choices. That seems only right considering the harm drunk drivers can do out on the road, but there's often someone else--an accomplice of sorts--whose contribution to the wreck shouldn't be overlooked. What about whoever provided the alcohol?
People aren't always aware that Texas alcohol vendors like bars and restaurants can't legally keep serving customers who are obviously intoxicated (many don't know that because they've seen vendors do it many times). The result is dangerously-drunk customers stumbling out the door at closing time and getting behind the wheel to go home, which often ends in injury or even death. When that occurs, the business may be liable for the harm their overly-drunk customers do under Texas dram shop law. That's the short version, but the link will direct you to a more comprehensive explanation.
To be clear, nobody has said the suspect was over-served somewhere. I bring up dram shop law because it's important to know about, but I don't for sure it applies here. However, if it's possible that an El Paso business knowingly over-served their customer and she then injured someone, it's important that everyone with a part in that is held accountable. If the victim can also get help getting back on his feet, that's all the more reason to take the necessary steps.
