La Blanca, TX — November 24, 2025, Joe Davila Jr. lost his life in a pedestrian versus alleged drunk driver accident at about 5:15 p.m. on State Highway 107.

According to authorities, 76-year-old Joe Davila was on foot taking out his garbage near the S.H. 107 and La Blanca Drive intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that a westbound Nissan Rogue occupied by 33-year-old Humberto Isaac Garza failed to safely maintain its lane of travel. It swerved off of the roadway and into a roadside ditch; there, the Rogue reportedly struck Davila, causing the pedestrian to suffer fatal injuries.

The Rogue allegedly fled the scene, Garza failing to stop and render aid of any sort to Davila. A witness to the accident was apparently able to follow the Nissan to the parking lot of a local business; Garza was arrested shortly after. Reports state that authorities have recommended charges of intoxication manslaughter and collision involving death against Garza.

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 come across reports like this one, I’m reminded of how quickly and unexpectedly a normal day can take a terrible turn. A man was simply outside doing something as routine as taking out the trash—something any of us might be doing at that time of day. And yet, according to reports, his life was cut short by someone who may have been under the influence and behind the wheel when they shouldn’t have been.

If alcohol truly played a role here, one question that deserves attention is how the alleged drunk driver got into that condition. Texas law makes it clear that individuals are responsible for their own choices, but it also recognizes that alcohol-serving establishments have a duty not to enable those choices—especially when someone is obviously intoxicated. If the driver in this case had been drinking at a bar or restaurant before the crash, that establishment’s role deserves a closer look. That’s exactly what Texas dram shop law is designed to help uncover.

Many people assume these kinds of cases are only about the driver, but that’s not always the full picture. The law provides tools to investigate where the alcohol came from and whether someone else contributed to what happened. For the families affected, that kind of accountability can offer both answers and a path forward.

Three key takeaways:

• In Texas, businesses that serve alcohol can be held liable if they overserve someone who is clearly intoxicated and that person causes harm.
• When a crash involves suspected drunk driving, especially during daytime or early evening hours, it’s worth asking where the drinking occurred—and whether it should have been stopped.
• Dram shop investigations can reveal hidden contributors to a tragedy and offer legal options many families don’t realize they have.