Castle Hills, Texas - Woman Killed, 4 Other People Injured in Suspected Drunk Driving Crash on Loop 410

Woman Killed, 2 Police Officers and 2 Others Injured in Suspected Drunk Driving Crash

A woman was killed and four other people were injured in a suspected drunk driving crash in Castle Hills early Sunday morning. The victim, 27-year-old Domenica Jo Burleson, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

According to the police report, a suspected drunk driver crashed his truck into a civilian vehicle and a Castle Hills Police patrol car near the intersection of NW Loop 410 and Honeysuckle Lane in the early hours of Sunday morning. Burleson was in front of a disabled vehicle at the time of the crash.

Four other people, including two police officers, jumped over a concrete wall to avoid being struck by the vehicle and fell 30 feet down to another road below.

The driver of the truck, Jesus Ruiz Sauceda, was arrested following the crash. He is charged with three counts of intoxication assault and one count of intoxication manslaughter.

One of the officers has been released, while the other has had one of several expected surgeries. That second officer is expected to be out of work for an extended period while recovering from his serious injuries. The first is expected to be back at work within several weeks.

Legal Options For Drunk Driving Victims and Their Families in Texas

Attorney contributor Anjali Nigam represents drunk driving victims and their families in civil lawsuits, helping them recover the financial compensation they need and deserve. Here is Anjali with some thoughts concerning the legal options for these victims and families in Texas:

In every state, people who are injured by drunk drivers may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against that driver. In fatal drunk driving crashes, the family may have a case for a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver as well. But in Texas and many other states, there are some situations where these victims and families may have grounds for a lawsuit against an alcohol vendor, such as a bar or restaurant. This last type of lawsuit is called a "dram shop" claim.

A dram shop claim can be filed against an alcohol vendor following a drunk driving crash caused by a customer if:

• the vendor sold or provided alcohol to a minor younger than 18 years old, or
• when the alcohol was sold, the customer was "obviously" intoxicated, posing a clear danger to others, and
• the intoxication was a foreseeable cause of the crash and injuries suffered.

Each drunk driving case is unique. Establishing alcohol vendor negligence will likely require legal assistance. You can learn more about your family's legal options following a drunk driving crash by discussing your case with an experienced drunk driving crash victims lawyer.

Sources:

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/woman-involved-in-deadly-crash-that-injured-2-castle-hills-police-officers-identified

https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/two-officers-are-recovering-after-jumping-off-an-overpass-to-escape-suspected-drunk-driver