Two men died and various others were injured in a string of horrific crashes supposedly involving drunk driving that closed a stretch of Interstate 10 just outside of El Paso last Sunday. These two men, ages 45 and 22, have both been taken from this world as the result of the 45-year-old's suspected reckless behavior of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

The negligent driver allegedly drank alcohol before causing an initial accident and then driving the wrong way down I-10. After hitting a traffic sign, he gained entry onto the interstate going the wrong direction. Car after car was affected by the wrongdoing. The others who were injured in this suspected drunk driving accident were taken to the hospital for treatment.

During the holiday season, more drivers are apt to be distracted, tired, or, as this case suggests, under the influence of alcohol. Cautionary tales abound this time of year, but some drivers unfortunately still don't heed the warnings. And, if reports are correct, it sounds like the man responsible for the recent El Paso accidents had at least a couple of chances to take warnings related to DWI under consideration.

The El Paso Times reports that there were two incidents of suspected drunk driving on the man's record. One charge was dismissed, but he did plead guilty to another DUI charge. If reports come out that confirm the driver was driving while impaired this last time, it could be easy to regret that perhaps the system didn't do enough to prevent this man from getting behind the wheel.

The driver didn't live to regret, learn from or pay for his alleged behavior that was fatal this time. That means that the family of the deceased victim can't go after the driver in civil court with a wrongful death lawsuit. Families in similar situations, however, wherein the drunk driver did survive could find solace in filing a negligence lawsuit.

Source

El Paso Times: "El Paso police: Driver in I-10 pileup was drinking before crash," Adriana M. Chavez, Dec. 13, 2011