Jury awards $262.5M to Odessa man seriously injured by drunk driver

ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Odessa man paralyzed in a drunk driving crash in 2021 was awarded more than $200 million dollars by an Ector County jury this week.

The lawsuit, brought against Rogelio Lujan and Linx Food and Beverage, LLC, which does business as Linx Bar & Grill, located at the Ratliff Ranch Golf course, was filed by attorneys with Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers of Odessa , on behalf of Isaac Sanchez after he sustained devastating injuries in the crash.

According to an Odessa Police Department crash report, on June 3, 2021, officers responded to a four-vehicle crash at the Andrews Highway and Yukon Road intersection. Investigators said a green Chevrolet Suburban, driven by Savannah Thatford, was stopped facing westbound in the 100 block of East Yukon. A white Ford van, driven by Zeuz Reyes, was stopped behind the Suburban. A black Harley Davidson motorcycle, ridden by Sanchez, then 32 years of age, was stopped behind the van.

A gray Dodge Ram, driven by Lujan, was traveling westbound in the 100 block of East Yukon; investigators said Lujan failed to control his speed before hitting the motorcycle and van. The impact caused all four vehicles to collide.

Sanchez was taken from the scene with serious injuries and was rendered a person with quadriplegia because of the collision.

Evidence presented at the trial showed that Lujan had been drinking at the golf course bar for most of the day, and lawyers argued that employees there “grossly” overserved Lujan while at the bar.

Jurors agreed unanimously that both Lujan and the bar shared responsibility for the crash and awarded Sanchez $262.5 million dollars for his injuries, pain, and physical impairment. Lujan will be responsible for paying 60% of that to the victim, with the remaining 40% owed by the bar.

“The jury spoke very clearly last night when it told Linx Bar & Grill and all other bars that they need to follow the rules,” said attorney Chad Inderman.

Lujan is also facing criminal charges in connection with the crash; he was charged with Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle Causing Serious Bodily Injury following his arrest in 2021. He has not yet been to trial, and a date has not yet been set, according to court records.

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