UPDATE (April 2, 2025): In addition to Jasmine and Jamel Cleveland, authorities identified victims injured in the crash. They were 55-year-old Wendy Knox, who reportedly was seriously injured, and 21-year-old Laila Knox, who had possible minor injuries. Right now, additional details about the allegedly drunk driver and other potential charges are unavailable. See the Commentary section below for more.

Sunnyvale, TX — March 16, 2025, a child was killed and Jasmine Cleveland, Jamel Cleveland, and two other kids were hurt in an alleged drunk driver accident.

Authorities say that the accident happened early Sunday morning in the area of U.S. Highway 80 and Collins Road.

Details say that Jasmine Cleveland, Jamel Cleveland, and their three children were in a vehicle returning to Alabama from a trip in Dallas. While traveling along the highway, authorities say that a Ford F-250 crashed into the back of their vehicle.

Due to the collision, a 4-year-old child in the Clevelands' vehicle sustained fatal injuries. The other occupants as well as Jasmine and Jamel Cleveland had reported injuries.

Right now, authorities allege that the Ford F-250 driver was drunk at the time. That driver is reportedly facing charges for intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When authorities suspect alcohol played a role in a crash, most people rightfully want to see the alleged drunk driver held accountable. But true accountability isn’t just about identifying who was behind the wheel—it also means asking how that driver ended up so impaired in the first place and whether or not a negligent alcohol provider is also responsible for what happened.

In Texas, it's unlawful for alcohol providers to serve someone who is obviously intoxicated. For example, if the alleged drunk driver had been drinking at a bar, restaurant, or similar establishment, investigations could reveal evidence that the establishment violated the law and ultimately contributed to the deadly crash. That establishment might then be exposed to legal consequences for their actions just as the alleged drunk driver would be for theirs.

To be clear, the reason I bring up this area of the law is because it rarely gets the attention it needs. Authorities too often get tunnel vision in their investigations if they already have a driver who can face charges. Meanwhile, there could be a local alcohol provider who is still breaking the law and putting lives at risk.

I've handled hundreds of alcohol-related accident cases. Simply put, I can't recall any families that were satisfied just having some "bad guy" to blame. They wanted to see accountability. For that to happen, all parties who contributed to the accident need to face appropriate consequences. As such, it's important to know if authorities are looking into where this alleged drunk driver was prior to the accident. If not, they may be missing crucial details.