Local reports indicate one woman was killed and another seriously injured in a wreck with a suspected drunk driver Saturday morning August 20. 41-year-old Samuel Montoya was driving his SUV when he struck a pickup driven by 44-year-old Blanca Cantu. Cantus passenger 48-year-old Norma Rios suffered critical injuries and was later pronounced dead at McAllen Medical Center. Cantu is listed as in stable condition. According to police Montoya admitted to drinking at a bar before the incident.
Site of the Accident
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Commentary
Day in and day out drunk drivers in Texas continue to endanger motorists and themselves on the roads. The prevalence of these tragedies are becoming an epidemic in this state. A third party investigation should be conducted to determine all liability. Certainly if the man was found to be drunk prior to the accident he may assume great fault in this wreck and be named a defendant in a wrongful death and/or personal injury claim. Further the man seems to implicate a bar was serving him before this wreck. While this would need to be corroborated with the investigation if this if found true the bar could be held partially liable in this accident. Texas has in place dram shop laws that can hold alcohol-serving establishments partially liable in the event a patron is involved in an accident after leaving. The laws dont take blame from the driver but rather identify all parties involved in a tragedy like this. To obtain and keep a liquor license bars must show and continue to show an understanding and enforcement of rules developed by the TABC. My firm takes a tough stance on bars that do not uphold these standards as it is just a matter of time before another incident happens that resulted in their over-serving.