Hockley County, TX — October 26, 2025, Juli Rhoads was injured in an alleged drunk driver accident at about 1:15 a.m. on F.M. 1585 near Wolfforth.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2024 Dodge Ram 1500 was heading south on F.M. 2378/Parksley Avenue when it allegedly ran a stop sign and hit a westbound 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe, causing it to overturn.

A passenger in the Chevrolet, 47-year-old Juli Rhoads, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report. The driver was not injured.

The Dodge driver, who suffered minor injuries, was charged with driving while intoxicated, the report states. His passenger suffered minor injuries as well.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Hockley County crash at this time.

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, where the alleged drunk driver got his alcohol before getting behind the wheel. It’s easy to focus all our attention on the driver, but experience has taught me that sometimes, a deeper look reveals someone else may have played a role in the chain of events leading up to a crash.

Under Texas law, if an alcohol provider — like a bar, restaurant or even a convenience store — overserved someone who was obviously intoxicated, that provider can be held accountable for the harm that followed. That’s what our state’s dram shop law is designed to address. If alcohol did in fact contribute to this crash, the next logical question is whether the driver was drinking at a licensed establishment beforehand; and if so, whether that business ignored clear signs that he shouldn’t have been served any more.

This isn’t just about pointing fingers; it’s about understanding the full picture of what led to someone getting seriously hurt. When a passenger is injured in a crash tied to suspected drunk driving, that injury didn’t happen in isolation. It may reflect a breakdown in responsibility that goes beyond the driver. Texas law gives those affected a way to find answers — and potentially hold all responsible parties accountable — but most people don’t even know that option exists.

Here are a few things worth thinking about:

• One of the most important but often overlooked questions in cases like this is, “Where did the driver get their alcohol?”
• If a licensed alcohol provider served the driver while they were already showing signs of intoxication, that business could share responsibility under Texas dram shop law.
• The law offers tools that many people don’t know they can use, but it takes a thorough investigation to uncover where overservice may have occurred.