Teen Passenger Injured in Car Accident on South Freeway in Manvel, TX
Manvel, TX — December 24, 2022, a car's 17-year-old passenger was seriously injured when a suspected drunk driver hit it on the shoulder of the South Freeway in Manvel.
Authorities say the incident happened around 10:35 p.m. on the South Freeway (State Highway 288) near Rodeo Palms Parkway. Preliminary investigation suggests a Dodge Challenger was pulled onto the highway's right southbound shoulder with a flat tire. Shortly afterward a southbound Ford Focus, allegedly swerving through lanes and trying to pass multiple vehicles, drove onto the shoulder during a pass attempt and hit the Challenger. The impact pushed the Dodge into the grass median and the Ford spun back into the travel lanes and came to a stop.
A teen passenger in the Challenger was seriously injured in the collision. It's unclear if there any other major injuries.
No further information is currently available.
It's always concerning when authorities bring up alcohol as a possible explanation for a crash as they did in Manvel. It could be one explanation for the Ford driver's alleged erratic behavior, but it's important to note that impairment was just a theory in reports. This crash could have been due to many other things, from simple carelessness to unseen factors like vehicle malfunctions or medical emergencies. I wouldn't rule out anything unless clear evidence shows it's safe to.
Even if alcohol was the primary culprit, though, things may still be more complicated than they seem. People aren't always aware that licensed alcohol providers like bars and restaurants are prohibited from over-serving their customers (yet many often do). If they refill someone's glass way beyond that person's limits, Texas dram shop law says they might be liable for any damage he causes or suffers while under the influence.
Having said that, I recognize that it may not apply in Manvel. It's not even certain whether alcohol was involved, let alone whether a business over-served it. The first and most important thing is simply to gather all the clear facts of what happened so nobody's left with questions. Any further steps would largely depend on what those facts turn out to be.
