Glenda Dry Killed, Hugh Means Indicted in Grand Saline, TX, Accident
Grand Saline, TX -- January 25, 2017, Hugh Means was indicted on a charge of intoxication manslaughter due to an accident that killed Glenda Dry.
Officials from the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department reported on the accident, which occurred on December 21, 2016 just outside of town.
According to reports, Glenda Dry was traveling along FM 857 in a Ford Ranger. As she did so, the vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by 56-year-old Means. As a result of the collision, Dry suffered fatal injuries and died.
Responding authorities determined that Means was intoxicated at the time, and he currently faces a charge of intoxicated manslaughter. His arraignment date is set for March 21.
No additional details are currently available.
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Commentary
It would appear that the alleged drunk driver in this case is facing the consequences for his actions, and most people think that this as far as justice goes after a drunk driving accident. Is it really justice, however, when a person is facing 2-20 years in prison, a family is left to grieve for a loved one, and a possible accomplice to the fatal accident is profiting off the tragedy? If this accident is looked into, it may turn out that the drunk driver got their alcohol from a bar. If that's the case, then that bar can held responsible for their contributions to the accident.
Texas dram shop law states that a bar which over-serves alcohol to an obviously intoxicated customer can be held liable for damages resulting from that person's intoxication. Some people find this area of the law controversial, saying, "Why would you sue a bar just for doing business?" Well, we wouldn't. We sue bars for doing illegal business.
Our laws hold licensed alcohol vendors to the standard that they should reasonably know when a customer is intoxicated. At that point, they should not be served any further alcohol. Disregarding this is directly contributing to the danger that an intoxicated person presents to the general public, and that sort of behavior deserves to be punished the same way that a drunk driver deserves to be punished for their illegal actions.
Benefiting the families of drunk driving victims is a very important part of these laws, but another important part is that businesses negligently complicit in the injury and death of others is properly addressed. A business that violates the law and over-serves their customer deserves to be held accountable for those actions. Doing this helps ensure that those affected by the accident see justice from everyone who broke the law.
--Grossman Law Offices
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