Montana Joe Stevens Killed, Paul Ferris Injured in Alleged Drunk Driving Accident in El Paso, TX
El Paso, TX -- January 4, 2023, Montana Joe Stevens was killed and Paul Ferris was injured after an alleged drunk driving accident.
Current information says the crash happened at around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Alabama Street and Aurora Avenue.
According to officials, 22-year-old Montana Joe Stevens was in a vehicle said to be driven by 46-year-old Luis Pedro Garcia. That vehicle allegedly ran a stop sign, resulting in a collision with other vehicles, including one said to be driven by Paul Eli Ferris.
Due to the severity of the collision, Stevens reportedly succumbed to fatal injuries. Ferris and Garcia were both taken to area hospitals.
Right now, authorities allege that alcohol was a factor in the crash. This has yet to be confirmed as investigations are ongoing. News outlets also posted videos taken by citizens apparently confronting a man about being drunk/and or high, telling him he's "going to get it." Further specifics are pending investigations.
Is There an Accomplice to Fatal Drunk Driving Accidents?
To be clear, I can't make a determination about the use of alcohol or whether or not the information in the news is accurate. All I can offer is insight to my experience with the scourge of drunk driving in the state of Texas. Something that not a lot of folks realize is families are rarely out of the woods, so to speak, after someone is put in cuffs. There are usually challenges that authorities alone don't have the tools or experience to handle, and it's important as many folks as possible understand why that is.
Following many drunk driving wrecks, investigations may show that the drunk driver got their alcohol from a local establishment--a bar, a liquor store, a restaurant, a gas station, etc. Those businesses have a legal obligation to avoid serving that alcohol to someone who is obviously intoxicated. What does that mean?
Anyone who has seen people stumbling out of clubs after last call or watched somebody slam a half dozen margaritas at a sports bar has likely seen exactly what that can mean. If a business contributes to that behavior, and it leads to people getting hurt, the business can open itself to all kinds of consequences, including administrative fines, criminal charges, and even liability through the civil courts.
Again, can I say any of that happened here? Not without seeing clear evidence for myself. But the initial details in these reports are more than concerning, and they are disturbingly familiar. At the end of the day, a young woman lost her life here. Are proper steps being taken to ensure there are appropriate consequences for those responsible?
[jump]
