Randall Smith, 1 Killed, Elizabeth Smith Injured in Car Accident in Jarrell, TX
Williamson County, TX — May 31, 2025, Randall Smith and one other were killed, and Elizabeth Smith was injured in a car accident at 3:00 a.m. on I-35.
According to initial details about the accident, it happened along the southbound lanes of the interstate.
Investigators said that retired Temple Fire & Rescue Captain Randall Smith, 66, and his wife, 65-year-old Elizabeth, were traveling southbound along I-35 at the time. Police say that another vehicle was traveling the wrong direction into oncoming traffic, resulting in a collision with the Smiths' vehicle.
Due to the collision, Randall Smith and the wrong-way driver were killed. Elizabeth Smith reportedly had non-critical injuries.
In their statements, authorities said they believe the wrong-way driver may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Additional details are unconfirmed.
Commentary
To be rather blunt, it would be surprising if authorities didn't suspect intoxication as a factor here. A driver getting on the wrong side of an interstate is almost always a sign they were under the influence—extremely so, considering what it takes to not realize you're going up an exit ramp and into oncoming highway traffic.
This brings up a very crucial question which I haven't seen authorities asking (at least not publicly). Was the wrong way driver over-served by a local bar? 3:00 a.m. on a Saturday is a peak time for drunk driving wrecks precisely because there are a lot of bars who unlawfully over-serve people who are obviously intoxicated. This creates dangerous conditions for everyone else on the roads. That's why Texas law allows for those negligent alcohol providers to be held accountable.
It's frustrating to me that this area of the law doesn't get more attention. I've handled hundreds of cases against negligent alcohol providers, and authorities rarely take steps on their own to investigate bars and other establishments. Meanwhile, families are left picking up the pieces, and communities continue to be put in danger as these negligent establishments continue their reckless practices.
So even though there may not be a driver to face charges in this situation, that doesn't mean there's nothing to investigate. If someone was intoxicated enough to get on the wrong side of the interstate, it's crucial to find out if some local establishment helped get them to that point. Holding them accountable would be a step not just toward making things right for a grieving family but also for making the roads safer for everyone and preventing future accidents.
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