Irving, TX — February 3, 2025, Mike Mandafro and one other were injured due to a car accident at around 1:38 a.m. along Loop 12.

Preliminary information about the accident says that it happened in the area of Grauwyler Road on southbound lanes of the highway.

According to officials, 37-year-old Mike Mandafro was in a Lexus going along Loop 12. Meanwhile, authorities say a Toyota Highlander was going northbound on the southbound lanes. As a result, the wrong-way vehicle crashed into Mandafro's vehicle.

Both Mike Mandafro and the wrong-way driver had serious injuries. Authorities allege that the Toyota driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Charges have not been confirmed.

Commentary

If the allegations here are true, it wouldn't be at all surprising. Frankly, alcohol is far and away the most common reason drivers get on the wrong side of the road. Beyond that, though, those drivers are usually found to be extremely intoxicated. That's when there needs to be an investigation into where that alcohol came from.

I've handled hundreds of cases against negligent alcohol providers for contributing to serious accidents. Simply put, if a bar or similar establishment serves someone to the point they can't tell which side of the road is which, it's almost guaranteed they unlawfully over-served that person. That can expose those negligent alcohol providers to potential criminal investigations, fines, and even liability for the resulting injuries.

Too often, though, this goes overlooked. Authorities tend to get tunnel vision and focus all of their attention on drunk drivers. That's understandable, but the families I've helped over the years didn't just want some bad guy to blame. They wanted to see accountability for the accident. That means making sure all wrongdoers face appropriate consequences.