Dallas County, TX — December 18, 2025, JD Cotton and five others were injured in an alleged drunk driver accident soon after 7:15 p.m. on Harry Hines Boulevard.

According to authorities, 41-year-old JD Cotton was traveling in a northeast bound Tesla Model S at the Harry Hines Boulevard and North Field Street intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that a northeast bound Nissan Altima entered the intersection at an unsafe time, failing to heed the traffic signal. A collision consequently occurred involving the Altima, the Tesla, and three pedestrians.

The three pedestrians—a 33-year-old man, a 27-year-old man, and a 35-year-old man—all reportedly suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident. Cotton and two people who had been in the Altima—a 30-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman—sustained minor injuries, as well, according to reports.

The 30-year-old man who had been behind the wheel of the Altima had allegedly been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the names of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about a crash that injures multiple people—including pedestrians—at a busy intersection, and alcohol is suspected, I think about how quickly public spaces can become unsafe when a single driver makes the wrong decision. According to reports, the driver of the Altima ran a red light and was allegedly under the influence at the time. That kind of behavior puts everyone nearby at risk—people in cars, people on foot, anyone just going about their evening.

But as serious as that decision was, it’s important to ask what led up to it. If alcohol was a factor, then another key question becomes: Where did this driver get his alcohol, and was he served after showing signs of intoxication? Under Texas dram shop law, alcohol providers—bars, restaurants, and other establishments—can be held legally responsible if they serve someone who is clearly intoxicated and that person goes on to cause harm. That law exists precisely because responsibility doesn’t always begin and end with the driver.

Three pedestrians seriously injured. Others hurt in a car that simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. These are the kinds of outcomes that can be prevented when alcohol providers take their duty seriously. If someone overserved this driver before he entered that intersection, that part of the story deserves to be brought to light—not just for accountability, but to help ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Three key takeaways:

• Texas dram shop law allows injured individuals to hold alcohol providers accountable if they overserve someone who is clearly intoxicated and that person causes harm.
• Crashes involving pedestrians and suspected drunk drivers in busy urban areas often begin at the bar, restaurant, or venue where the drinking occurred.
• Victims may have legal options beyond the driver, including the right to investigate whether an establishment contributed to the crash through irresponsible alcohol service.