Denton County, TX — January 21, 2026, a teen was killed and two other people were injured in a possible drunk driver accident just before 10:45 p.m. on U.S. 380.

According to authorities, a 17-year-old boy was traveling in a southbound Kia Sportage on F.M. 1385 at the University Drive (U.S. 380) intersection when the accident took place.

The intersection is controlled by a traffic signal. Officials indicate that a westbound Honda Accord that had allegedly been speeding entered the intersection against a red light. A collision consequently occurred involving the Sportage, the Accord, and an eastbound Chevrolet Impala occupied by a 37-year-old man.

The teen from the Sportage reportedly sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision. The 25-year-old woman who had been behind the wheel of the Honda suffered serious injuries, as well, and the man from the Impala received minor injuries, reports state.

Reports also note that the woman who had been driving the Honda had purportedly been drinking before the accident took place. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about collisions like this one, what stays with me isn’t just the loss of a young life, but how often the public conversation narrows to a single driver’s alleged impairment. That focus is understandable, but it can leave out an important part of the broader picture.

If reports are accurate and alcohol played a role here, one of the most important but often overlooked questions is where that drinking occurred. Texas law recognizes that an alcohol provider may share responsibility if they served someone who was obviously intoxicated. That principle isn’t about diluting a driver’s responsibility—it’s about acknowledging that impaired driving frequently begins with decisions made before anyone approaches an intersection. That’s the kind of question dram shop law is built to answer.

In many cases, once it’s established that someone had been drinking, the deeper inquiry ends there. Law enforcement must focus on the crash scene and any potential criminal charges. Meanwhile, whether a business overserved a patron can go unexamined unless someone looks further. When a victim loses their life and others are injured, understanding whether this situation was preventable at an earlier stage becomes critically important. The law offers tools that many people don’t know they can use to explore that possibility.

When I step back from incidents like this, I’m reminded that accountability often has more than one layer. Looking at the full chain of events isn’t about casting blame broadly—it’s about determining whether responsible alcohol service could have interrupted the sequence of events before it reached the roadway.

Three takeaways to keep in mind:

• Texas dram shop law allows investigation into whether an alcohol provider overserved someone who was obviously intoxicated.
• A complete review of the facts should include where the alleged impaired driver was drinking, not just what happened at the intersection.
• Many families are unaware that legal remedies may exist beyond the criminal case when serious crashes raise broader questions about preventability and responsibility.