San Antonio, TX — October 19, 2025, two people were injured in an alleged drunk driver accident at about 3:30 a.m. at South San Marcos Street and South Laredo Street.

Authorities said a vehicle was speeding when it collided with another vehicle at the downtown intersection, causing it to catch fire.

A child in the first vehicle and the 40-year-old woman driving the other vehicle were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.

The driver of the first vehicle was arrested on charged of intoxication assault and endangering a child, authorities said. The child who had been riding with her with in the front seat and not properly secured.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Bexar County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

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; namely, how someone allegedly ended up so intoxicated behind the wheel at 3:30 in the morning with a child in the car. Most people understandably focus on the arrest and the immediate impact, but from a legal and safety standpoint, we also have to ask: where was this person drinking beforehand, and was an alcohol provider involved?

Under Texas dram shop law, it’s not just the driver who may bear responsibility in a crash like this. If a bar, restaurant or other licensed establishment served alcohol to someone who was clearly intoxicated, and that service contributed to a serious crash, the law allows victims to hold that provider accountable. It’s a part of the law that often goes unexamined unless someone knows to ask the right questions, and unfortunately, many don’t.

That’s why cases like this deserve more than just criminal charges. They deserve a broader investigation into how this situation was allowed to unfold. If a licensed alcohol provider played a role in enabling the driver’s condition that night, that should be brought to light; not only for accountability’s sake, but to help prevent future harm.

It may be surprising, but in many drunk driving crash investigations, authorities lack the resources and support necessary to investigate where the alleged drunk driver was drinking prior to the crash. That’s the kind of question dram shop law is built to answer.

Key Takeaways:

• Texas law allows injured people and their families to hold alcohol providers accountable if they served someone who was already clearly intoxicated.
• A full investigation should consider not just the driver’s actions, but whether a bar or restaurant contributed to the situation by overserving.
• Many people don’t realize they have legal tools available to explore these questions until it’s too late—dram shop law is one of them.