Panola County, TX — June 23, 2025, Ola Roquemore was injured in an alleged drunk driver accident at about 6 p.m. on U.S. Route 79.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a southbound 2104 Toyota Camry collided with a northbound 2019 GMC Yukon near Private Road 7282 west of Panola. The GMC overturned after the crash.

GMC driver Ola Roquemore, 39, and a 16-year-old boy suffered minor injuries in the crash, according to the report.

The Toyota driver, who was seriously injured, had been drinking before the crash, the report states. A passenger in the car suffered minor injuries as well.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Panola County crash.

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, particularly when alcohol is believed to have played a role. Most people understand that a driver can be held accountable if they choose to drive under the influence. But few realize that in Texas, the law also allows us to ask where that driver got their alcohol, and whether someone else contributed to the danger by serving them when they shouldn’t have.

If reports are accurate and the driver had been drinking before the crash, that opens the door to questions that deserve careful attention. Was the driver overserved at a bar, restaurant or other licensed venue? Did an alcohol provider ignore clear signs of intoxication before letting that person leave? These aren’t just details; they’re opportunities to understand how the system may have failed to prevent a harmful event.

The law doesn’t presume guilt on the part of an alcohol provider, but it does make clear that bars and restaurants have a duty not to serve patrons who are clearly intoxicated. When they do, and someone gets hurt, Texas law gives victims and their families the right to hold them accountable through what’s known as a dram shop claim. That’s not something most people learn about until they’re directly affected, but it can make a real difference in getting answers and accountability.

When alcohol plays a role in a crash, we need to look beyond the driver. Someone else may have had a hand in what happened, and the law gives us the tools to find out.

Three key things to consider:

1. One of the most important but often overlooked questions in cases like this is, “Where did the driver get their alcohol?”
2. If an alcohol provider served someone who was clearly intoxicated, they may share in the responsibility for what happened next.
3. The law offers tools that many people don’t know they can use, especially in cases involving serious harm and suspected overservice.