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Samuell Boulevard Accident in Dallas Leaves Charlie Contreras Dead, Driver Arrested for DWI


Photo Credit: www.crimeblog.dallasnews.com
Photo Credit: www.dallasnews.com

Update: Charlie Contreras has passed away from his injuries, police said.

Update: The man on the motorcycle who was injured has been identified as Charlie Contreras, 60, who is a retired Dallas firefighter.

Dallas, TX — A man named Juan Diaz Lizama, 20 years old, was arrested in Dallas near Tenison Park after his pickup truck crashed into a motorcycle and badly injured two people: a 37-year old woman and a 60-year old man. The accident happened on Sunday, April 26, around 12:00 a.m.

An off-duty police officer reported the accident along Samuell Boulevard after hearing the impact from his job as a security guard. Allegedly, Lizama had been driving his pickup truck while under the influence of alcohol when he crashed into a motorcycle.

The man and woman on the motorcycle were badly hurt, but Lizama fled the scene. His white Dodge Ram truck was later found along Valley Glen Drive and police said that Lizama appeared to be intoxicated and arrested him. He had also been transporting an adult and four minors in the truck.

As of Sunday, he was arrested and taken to Dallas County Jail, where he was charged with intoxication assault. More details will be released later.

The man and woman, who were not named, had to be taken to a hospital, where they were treated for serious-to-critical injuries.

Map of the Accident

Commentary:

If the police are correct in reporting that alcohol is a factor here, then where had this person come from that night? Had the driver been at a local bar or somewhere else that served alcohol? The reason I’m asking is that people seem to be up in arms about this accident, saying that the driver needs to be punished and sent to jail for his recklessness.

I won’t be the judge and jury here, but I have to agree with the idea of holding people accountable for their actions, especially ones that result in injuries or death. However, there’s another side to be considered here, which is the source of the alleged alcohol involved.

Texas law says that if a bar (or some other business licensed to sell alcohol) provides drinks for someone who’s already intoxicated and that person gets into an accident as a result, the bar can be punished alongside the drunk driver. That’s right, both are held responsible for the same accident because, in the eyes of the law, both parties’ negligence caused the accident. This also applies to minors, as it’s illegal to sell to anyone under 21. Bars that don’t card put everyone else on the road in danger night after night.

If a bar had served this man who injured the folks on the motorcycle, then they ought to be held accountable for what happened as well as the arrested driver. The same applies to a liquor store that sells to a minor.

 
— Grossman Law Offices

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