Medics Injured in Alleged Drunk Driving Accident on South Congress in Austin, TX
Austin, TX -- March 12, 2023, two medics were injured following an accident where their ambulance was hit by an allegedly drunk driver.
Preliminary details about the crash say it happened at around 3:30 a.m. off the corner of South Congress Avenue and East Riverside Drive. It appears that an ambulance was on a call at the time when a driver, believed to be drunk, crashed into it. As a result, two medics onboard were taken to the hospital. At least one continues to recover, officials say. Details about the suspect driver are unavailable at this time.
KXAN quotes Division Chief Eric Jakubauskas saying something we hear far too often in Texas, yet apparently not often enough: "There's so many other ways to get home." That's true especially these days with the abundance of ride-share vehicles, and it's true enough in Austin, which generally has better public transit than other cities in Texas.
But that's not the only warning we should be giving to the public. The constant battle against drunk driving needs to be waged on multiple fronts. Encouraging safe riders is a great step. So is educating people on the effects of alcohol and helping them understand their limits. Folks can also learn about the laws against businesses negligently over-serving patrons and the penalties those businesses can face, as well as potential liability for the harm caused by that illegal over-service (this is called dram shop).
By addressing as many of these problems as possible, my hope is to see Texas continue to improve in its struggle against drunk driving and the immense devastation it causes each year. Others can do their part by making these accidents as visible as possible and educating themselves on the law and the rights it affords them and their loved ones.
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