Paul Lodo Killed in Auto Accident on West Loop in Bellaire, TX
Bellaire, TX — October 3, 2022, 31-year-old Paul Lodo died in a multi-vehicle traffic accident on the West Loop in Harris County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 6:10 p.m. on the West Loop North (I-610) near Evergreen Street. Preliminary investigation suggests Lodo was driving a Toyota Echo north on the highway as a Hino commercial van headed north one lane to his right. Investigators believe he may have made an unsafe lane change to the right, at which point the van hit the Toyota and sent it out of control.
The Toyota veered left and hit the median barrier, ejecting Lodo into the inside southbound roadway. The unoccupied car then veered through the northbound lanes and collided with two other vehicles before coming to rest on the shoulder.
Lodo was fatally injured in the accident. Investigators reportedly collected blood samples for toxicology testing as part of the investigation.
No further information is currently available.
When another life is lost on Texas roads, it leaves many people grasping for answers about how and why they lost someone important. Police investigators often manage to answer that to some degree, but I've seen more than a few instances where the story they uncover has notable gaps.
Take the accident in Bellaire, for example: Officers seemingly ran blood tests to learn if intoxication was a factor in what happened. I can't say what role (if any) alcohol played, but if it was a contributing factor then there may be another detail to learn: where it came from.
That may seem trivial, but it's quite important. Texas prohibits licensed alcohol vendors like bars and restaurants from over-serving their customers. If they do so illegally, then the law may consider them partly responsible for any damage those customers cause--even to themselves--while under the influence.
In no way do I want to turn attention away from the accident or the sad loss of life that followed. I just think it's important to get every available answer for that man's loved ones—and to hold everyone responsible for their loss accountable. I hope law enforcement was able to make both those things happen.
