Texas Accident & Injury News
People die on Texas roads every single day.
Fort Worth Police Officer Fatally Struck by Suspected Drunk Driver While Responding to an Accident
According to an NBC-DFW News report, an officer was fatally struck while responding to an accident yesterday morning.
Police reported the accident occurred at around 2:30 a.m. on August 12th, at I-35 West and Sycamore School Road. A tractor-trailer was exiting I-35 when it hit the guardrail and spilled fuel, causing it to catch fire. The service road and exit ramp were shut down as a result, and the officer, Sergeant Billy Randolf, 56, was standing on the exit ramp. That is when police say a drunk driver ignored the barricade and drove the wrong way up the ramp at around 5:38 a.m., striking Randolf. The driver, later identified as 25-year-old De Aujalae Evans, didn’t initially stop but continued driving before exiting the vehicle to run on foot. She was caught and charged with intoxication manslaughter causing the death of a peace officer or firefighter.
Did You Know?
There were no deathless days on Texas roads in 2023.
Facts About Deadly Accidents in Texas
Texas roads grow increasingly dangerous as the years go on.
Every year, thousands of people are killed in auto accidents. In 2023, 4,283 people died in traffic accidents, and there were five crashes that resulted in at least 6 fatalities at once.
Traffic fatalities are almost always caused by the same stupid mistakes. Arm yourself with the facts, and know what to do if you lose a loved one in a Texas auto accident.
Causes of Deadly Accidents in Texas
Each year, similar factors cause deadly accidents on Texas roads:
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving has plagued Texas roads for decades. In 2023, there were 1,090 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes where a driver was drunk. That’s 25.45% of traffic fatalities for the entire year.
These crashes are most likely to occur:
- On Weekends (Sunday being the most common),
- During and Leading Up to Holidays,
- Between 2:00 and 2:59 a.m.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is illegal and happens most frequently among younger age groups (∼16-25). Distracted driving caused 403 fatal accidents in 2023.
Distracted driving is more than just texting and includes behaviors like:
- Grooming,
- Changing Clothes,
- Eating,
- Scrolling on Social Media,
- Watching Videos,
- And Using Vehicle Touch Screens.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving takes many forms, and none of them are unfamiliar to Texas drivers.
Common acts of reckless driving that caused fatalities in 2023 include:
- Drunk Driving,
- Drowsy Driving (103 fatal crashes),
- Distracted Driving (67 fatal crashes),
- Phone Use (31 fatal crashes)
- Speeding (341 fatal crashes),
- Failure to yield (238 fatal crashes),
- Disregarding Stop Signs/Signals (472 fatal crashes).
Did You Lose a Loved in a Texas Auto Accident? Call Shaw.
You should never have to be separated from your loved ones because of another driver’s stupid mistake.
Pursuing a wrongful death claim will not bring your loved one back. However, you deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the responsible party has faced justice. If you lost a family member in a Texas auto accident, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Funeral/Burial Expenses,
- Medical Bills,
- Lost Earning Capacity,
- Pain and Suffering,
- Loss of Consortium,
- Lost Care,
- And More.
We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.
Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 to schedule a consultation with one of our wrongful death attorneys. No fees, no obligations, just expert legal advice. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney for an initial consultation is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.