Bowie County, TX — June 29, 2025, Matthew Sherman was killed in an alleged drunk driver accident at about 8:15 p.m. on State Highway 8.

Authorities said a 2024 Ford F-150 was heading south when it crashed into some trees along the highway after veering off the road.

Passenger Matthew Sherman, 32, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities, who found beer cans in and around the pickup.

The driver, who had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in the Linden resident's death, authorities said.

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

Commentary

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: how someone charged with intoxication manslaughter ended up behind the wheel in that condition in the first place. That’s not just a question of criminal accountability; it’s also a question of whether someone else in the chain of responsibility overlooked warning signs and enabled a dangerous situation.

One of the most important but often overlooked questions in cases like this is, “Where did the driver get their alcohol?” If a business served the driver who’s now facing serious charges, Texas law says that business may be partly accountable, especially if they continued to serve alcohol after it was clear the person was obviously intoxicated. Dram shop law was created to give victims and their families a way to ask those questions and seek accountability from everyone who played a role, not just the person behind the wheel.

Looking at this situation, it’s clear the consequences were life-altering for everyone involved. But it may not be the full picture. If alcohol service occurred, and especially if it happened at a bar or restaurant, it’s worth asking whether that provider failed to cut someone off when the law, and common sense, said they should have. That’s the kind of question dram shop law is built to answer.

Here are three things to keep in mind:

• Texas dram shop law holds alcohol providers responsible when they overserve someone who later causes harm, including in deadly crashes.
• In many cases, these providers aren’t investigated unless the victim’s family pushes for it, meaning critical facts can go unnoticed.
• Even if you’ve never heard of dram shop liability, the law offers tools that may help families get answers and accountability.