Corpus Christi, TX — Three children were seriously injured in an accident in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Saturday, July 5, 2014. The accident took place on the Crosstown Expressway when Kimberly Gonzalez got into an argument with Daniel Rivera, her passenger. The argument became heated and Rivera grabbed the vehicle’s steering wheel, jerking it and sending the vehicle down a freeway embankment. The vehicle rolled and hit a light pole before coming to a stop.
Also inside the vehicle were three children, a male and two females, 7-years old, 6-years old, and 10-months old, respectively. The boy was not wearing a seat belt and suffered major head trauma. All three were taken to Driscoll Children’s Hospital and are listed in serious and critical condition.
Police say that Gonzalez was intoxicated at the time of the accident. She’s been arrested and charged with intoxicated assault. Rivera has been charged with injury to a child as well as endangering a child.
After being cleared from Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital, both were arrested and taken into custody.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
It’s possible that if the two adults in the vehicle were drinking in a bar before the accident occurred, and weren’t being cut off despite being visibly intoxicated that the bar would be partially liable for the accident. The optimist in wants to say that there’s no way these two would be out drinking with kids in tow, although the realist in me has stopped being surprised at any irresponsible thing a parent can do to their child.
If there is a bar involved, they need to be investigated. These two obviously had no business behind the wheel of a car. They chose to drive anyway, and now these children are paying for it. If a bar played any role in that, they need to be held responsible. They don’t need to take the blame. I don’t want anyone to misunderstand me. The two adults need to be held responsible for what they’ve done. However, if a bar was involved then they’re partly responsible and should also be held accountable for that.
— Grossman Law Offices
