San Augustine County, TX — October 9, Randal Massey and Cody Massey were injured in a suspected drunk driver accident at about 6:30 a.m. on F.M. 83.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2006 Toyota Corolla was going north on F.M. 432 when it collided with an eastbound 2006 Ford Explorer west of Pineland.

Ford driver Randal Massey, 47, and passenger Cody Massey, 24, suffered minor injuries in the crash, according to the report.

The Toyota driver, who reportedly has been drinking before the crash, and a passenger were seriously injured, the report states. Another passenger suffered minor injuries.

Authorities have not released any additional informational information about the San Augustine County crash.

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. Reports mention that alcohol may have been involved, yet we rarely hear much about how a person who’s been drinking ends up behind the wheel early in the morning. That silence leaves out a critical piece of the picture, especially when someone else is hurt.

One of the most important but often overlooked questions in cases like this is, “Where did the driver get their alcohol?” If someone was visibly intoxicated before 6:30 a.m., that likely didn’t happen in isolation. And if a bar, restaurant or other alcohol provider served that person despite obvious signs of intoxication, Texas law allows those affected to ask whether that establishment shares some of the responsibility. That’s the kind of question dram shop law is built to answer.

It’s easy to assume drunk driving crashes are solely about the driver’s choices, but in some situations, those choices are shaped, or enabled, by people who profit from selling alcohol. When a provider fails to cut someone off and that decision leads to harm, the law doesn’t look the other way. It offers a path to accountability that many people don’t even realize exists.

So when I reflect on this crash, I keep coming back to this: If alcohol played a role here, who else was involved in getting it into the driver’s system? That’s not just a legal issue. It’s a public safety concern. Because holding the right parties accountable is how we help prevent the next crash from happening.

Three key points to consider:

• Dram shop laws exist to hold alcohol providers accountable if they overserve someone who then causes harm to themselves or others.
• A full investigation should explore not just who was driving, but where and how alcohol may have been served.
• Many people don’t realize the law offers remedies even in cases where the driver is clearly at fault. Those affected may have more options than they think.