Kaufman County, TX — June 13, 2025, Brendan Ivy was killed in an alleged drunk driver accident at about 11:05 p.m. on F.M. 429 at Cedar Grove Road.

A preliminary accident report indicates that 2004 Chevrolet Silverado crashed into a northbound 2025 Kawasaki EX650 as the pickup turned off of Cedar Grove Road. It did not stop after the collision.

Motorcyclist Brendan Cole Ivy, 18, died in the crash, according to the report.

No other injuries were reported.

The Chevrolet driver, who reportedly had been drinking, was charged with failing to stop and render aid after a collision, the report states.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash northeast of Terrell.

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, specifically, the role that alcohol may have played and who, if anyone, served it. When an 18-year-old loses his life and authorities note that the other driver had reportedly been drinking, it’s fair to ask whether someone else helped set this in motion before that driver ever got behind the wheel.

One of the most important but often overlooked questions in cases like this is, “Where did the driver get their alcohol?” In Texas, when a person is overserved at a bar, restaurant or other alcohol provider while already showing signs of intoxication, and then causes a crash like this one, the law allows families to seek answers and hold those providers accountable through what’s known as a dram shop claim. It’s not always obvious, but there may be more to this story than people realize.

While the criminal charges may focus on the driver’s failure to stop and the reported alcohol use, that doesn’t always tell the full story. If a bar or other establishment served alcohol to someone who was clearly intoxicated, that would represent a breakdown not just in personal responsibility, but in professional obligation as well. And the law offers tools that many people don’t know they can use to find out.

Ultimately, this kind of loss raises bigger questions about the chain of decisions that led to it; not just the driver’s, but anyone who might have enabled that driver’s condition. These aren’t easy questions to ask, but they’re necessary if we want to understand the full scope of what happened, and who may be responsible beyond the person behind the wheel.

Key points for readers to consider:

• Dram shop law exists to hold alcohol providers accountable if they overserve a visibly intoxicated person who then causes harm.
• Investigating where the driver may have been drinking is crucial, especially when reports mention alcohol involvement.
• Families affected by alcohol-related crashes may have legal options they don’t know about; it’s worth asking the right questions early.