Angelina County, TX — June 4, 2025, three people were injured in an alleged drunk driver accident shortly after 8:45 p.m. on Timberland Drive.

According to authorities, two people—a 28-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman—were traveling in a southbound Honda Accord on Timberland Drive at the Atkinson Drive intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that a Chrysler occupied by a 27-year-old man that had been traveling westbound on Atkinson Drive entered the intersection at an apparently unsafe time, failing to stop for the signal indicated by the traffic light. This resulted in a collision between the Chrysler and the Honda. The man who had been behind the wheel of the Honda reportedly sustained serious injuries as a result of the wreck.

The woman who was with him in the Honda and the man from the Chrysler suffered minor injuries, as well. Report state that the man who had been driving the Chrysler may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the wreck, as well. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities 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 incidents like this one, what stands out to me isn’t just what happened, but what’s missing from the conversation—namely, the circumstances leading up to this crash and whether someone else may hold responsibility.

Even though the investigation is ongoing, one of the most important but often overlooked questions in cases like this is: “Where did the driver get their alcohol?” Under Texas law, if the driver was drinking at a bar, restaurant, or similar establishment, and was overserved, that provider could face a dram shop claim for contributing to the crash. It’s not always obvious, but there may be more to this story than people realize.

If alcohol played a role in this crash, that raises some significant legal and safety questions. It may be surprising, but in many drunk-driving investigations, authorities lack the resources and support necessary to track down exactly where the driver was earlier—even when liability could extend beyond the individual behind the wheel. That’s the kind of question dram shop law is built to answer.

In the end, what matters most is ensuring a full picture of accountability—not just looking at a traffic signal or vehicle movements, but digging deeper into the chain of events that led here. For those affected, the law offers tools that many people don’t know they can use.

Three things to keep in mind:

1. Texas dram shop law allows those harmed in impaired-driving wrecks to explore whether an alcohol provider overserved—adding another layer of accountability beyond the driver.
2. A thorough investigation needs to ask: where did the driver drink before the crash? That’s not just a detail—it can point to other responsible parties.
3. Even if you’ve never heard of dram shop claims before, the law offers remedies for victims when over-service may have been a factor.