Muskogee County, OK — Two people are dead after an accident on Oklahoma’s State Highway 16 that police believe may have been caused by alcohol. The accident took place on Monday, July 21, 2014, about 10 miles west of Muskogee, around 10:30 at night.
Police have identified Joseph Sabella, who was traveling along Highway 16 when he crossed the center line and crashed into Carol Gonzalez, who was traveling in the opposite direction. The collision ejected Sabella from his vehicle. Gonzalez was trapped inside her vehicle and had to be extricated by emergency workers. Both were declared dead at the scene.
The report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol mentions that Sabella smelled of alcohol when he was found. The accident is still being investigated.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
The time of night this accident occurred at makes me wonder if Sabella were perhaps coming home from a bar, or some similar establishment. It’s against Oklahoma law to sell alcohol to anyone the seller knows is already intoxicated, and it’s possible that would be the case here. This is a part of Oklahoma’s dram shop laws, which were really created to help regulate the safe sale of alcohol. Of course, this wouldn’t take any of the blame away from those who choose to drink and drive. They’re the ones making the mistakes, and should be held responsible. But if a server in a bar is bringing someone drink after drink when they’re clearly drunk, and then that person goes out and kills someone on the highway, the server, and by extension the bar, has played a very real part in that accident, and should be made accountable.
— Grossman Law Offices
