www.theeagle.com
According to their reports, Johnson was driving his silver Ford pickup truck along Holleman Drive when he tried to turn onto Kenyon Drive and lost control.
They think he was going too fast.
Johnson’s truck lost control and swerved to the edge of the road, where it hit a parked car and drove onto the grass. The truck then flipped over at least twice, ejecting one of the five people inside.
The paramedics were called and they rushed the ejected passenger to a nearby hospital, but said the other three passengers were simply treated and released there at the scene. The police said that Gunner Johnson, however, was arrested and charged with suspected intoxicated assault. His BAC hasn’t been released yet, but the authorities think he was under the influence.
Map of the Area
View from the Road
Commentary:
I understand the attitude that some people must have toward this accident. In a college town, this is exactly the kind of cliché accident that you hope to avoid being known for. Thankfully, nobody was killed or more seriously hurt here.
However, let’s back up just a moment and consider the possibility that there’s more going on here than we realize. First, this accident happened close to when most bars close up shop for the night. Second, it apparently involves alcohol. Given the age of those involved, is it possible they had come from a bar?
The reason that’s important is because if they had been at a bar, then it stands to reason they might’ve had too much to drink. The problem? Bars are legally required to cut customers off when they become intoxicated. In fact, they’re not supposed to serve them that much alcohol in the first place, according to the Texas Dram Shop Act of 1987.
If a bar got these students (I assume) liquored up and then let them leave, then the bar is a part of this just like the driver who got arrested is. Now, my explanation here is a bit on the simple side, but you can get the picture, right? Yes, this young man made some bad decisions, but he may not have been the only one. If a bar got someone drunk who caused an accident, it seems to me like that place ought to be fined or even shut down for their contribution. Think of it this way: how many shooting incidents do you let happen at a gun range before people get angry and the place gets shut down? I say again, if customers are getting hammered at bars and getting into accidents, maybe that bartender needs to be a little more careful.
— Grossman Law Offices
