Jasmine Martinez, Evelyn Martinez Injured in Alleged Drunk Driver Accident in Lubbock, TX
Lubbock, TX — April 13, 2024, Jasmine Martinez and Evelyn Martinez were injured after an alleged drunk driver accident around 3:51 a.m. on U.S. 87.
According to investigations, the crash occurred south of the city in the area of U.S. Highway 87 and County Road 7500.
Authorities said that 23-year-old Evelyn Martinez and her sister, 18-year-old Jasmine Martinez, were in a Chevy Suburban going southbound on the highway. At C.R. 7500 (146th Street), it appears a westbound Honda failed to yield, entered the path of the Chevy, and caused a crash. This led to the Suburban running off-road and overturning.
Jasmine Martinez reportedly had serious injuries due to the crash while Evelyn Martinez reportedly had less severe injuries. The Honda driver had apparently non-life-threatening injuries, as well. Right now, it's alleged that the Honda driver was under the influence of alcohol, and authorities recommended charges for intoxication assault.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
It always gets under my skin how often victims and their loved ones end up bearing the burden of someone else's mistakes when those who wronged them can be held responsible. For example, most drunk driving wrecks at this time of day involve negligent bars who can be held responsible for their role in the accident. Are authorities doing anything about that possibility?
The unfortunate reality is that alcohol providers often fly under the radar because authorities rarely look beyond the drunk drivers. Once there's someone for them to charge, they move on. Meanwhile, the alcohol providers continue to do business as usual, likely putting others in danger, and the victims and families whose lives they turned upside-down are left behind to fend for themselves. Does that sound just? Does that sound fair?
Simply put, Texas law allows for all responsible parties to be confronted for their role in these kinds of accidents. I've helped hundreds of families navigate the civil legal system who had no idea bars and other alcohol providers could be held accountable until they talked to us. Once they knew their rights, though, they were asking the same thing I ask in these situations: Why don't authorities care more about making sure the burden caused by these accidents actually falls to the people who are responsible? It would be good to find out that authorities here weren't letting anyone off the hook, but experience tells me not to hold my breath.
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