Tyler County, TX — May 12, 2025, Venkata Koushal Eskala was killed and another was injured following a car accident at 10:00 p.m. on FM 92.

Preliminary information about the accident says that it happened a few miles south of Spurger.

According to officials, 25-year-old Venkata Koushal Eskala was in a northbound Chrysler. A Nissan Rogue was going southbound. The vehicles somehow crossed paths, and they collided. Due to the crash, Venkata Koushal Eskala was reportedly killed.

The Nissan driver reportedly sustained serious injuries. Authorities allege that driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Potential charges are unclear right now.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When reports surface about a fatal crash involving alcohol, most people understandably focus on what happened in those final moments on the road. But if a driver was allegedly under the influence, as officials suggest here, it raises a deeper question that rarely gets the attention it deserves: Was there an opportunity to prevent this before the driver ever got behind the wheel?

That’s where dram shop law comes into play. In Texas, bars, restaurants, and other alcohol providers have a legal duty not to over-serve someone who’s obviously intoxicated. That standard exists for exactly this reason—because impaired decisions made inside an establishment can carry serious consequences long after a tab is closed. If someone was showing obvious signs of intoxication and kept being served, that’s not just poor judgment; it's a wanton disregard of Texas law.

Unfortunately, this angle often goes unexplored. Law enforcement typically concentrates on what occurred at the scene—who was driving, whether alcohol was involved, and what criminal charges may apply. But that limited scope leaves a lot of important questions unanswered, particularly about where the drinking happened and whether the over-service of alcohol played a role.

So while the loss of life is front and center—as it should be—there’s often more to the story that the public seldom sees. The law offers a broader framework for accountability, but it only works if someone asks the right questions early enough to uncover the full picture.

Three key takeaways:

1. Texas dram shop law exists to hold alcohol providers accountable when they over-serve someone who is obviously intoxicated.
2. Investigations often stop at the crash site—but understanding where and how alcohol was served can be just as important.
3. Accountability isn’t only about the alleged drunk driver; it may also involve those who enabled their condition, if over-service occurred.