Fort Worth Wrong-Way DUI Tragedy: Life Sentence for Driver Who Killed Sgt. Billy Randolph on I-35

The Fort Worth community has finally seen a measure of criminal justice in a case that redefined the dangers faced by law enforcement and motorists alike on Tarrant County highways. De Aujalae Evans, the woman responsible for the 2024 wrong-way DUI crash that claimed the life of veteran Fort Worth Police Sergeant Billy Randolph, has been sentenced to life in prison with no parole.

At Attorney911, we have spent over 27 years litigating catastrophic collisions across Texas. While a life sentence provides a sense of closure for the criminal justice system, the civil implications of this tragedy—ranging from Dram Shop liability to the inherent dangers of secondary crash scenes involving tractor-trailers—require deep legal analysis. When a driver admits to consuming 10 shots of alcohol in four hours before getting behind the wheel, the failure isn’t just hers; it often points to a systemic failure of the establishments that served her.

If you or a loved one has been impacted by a drunk driver or a catastrophic highway collision in Fort Worth, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a team that understands the “why” behind the “what.” Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation.

The Anatomy of the Fort Worth I-35 South Disaster

The incident occurred in August 2024 on I-35 South near Sycamore School Road in Fort Worth. Sgt. Billy Randolph, a 29-year veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department, was doing his job—protecting the public by investigating an earlier crash involving a tractor-trailer. While he was standing outside his vehicle, De Aujalae Evans was driving the wrong way on the interstate.

Evans struck Sgt. Randolph with her vehicle and, in a display of conscious indifference to human life, kept driving. She attempted to flee the scene and eventually jumped out of her vehicle to run away on foot before officers apprehended her.

The Admission: 10 Shots in 4 Hours

During her trial in Tarrant County, Evans admitted to drinking at least 10 shots over the course of four hours. She failed a field sobriety test and was already on probation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon at the time of the crash. This admission is a critical piece of evidence that would trigger a massive civil investigation in any personal injury or wrongful death matter we handle.

Tarrant County Crash Data: The Reality of Fort Worth Roads

Fort Worth residents face some of the highest traffic risks in the state. According to TxDOT data, Tarrant County recorded 28,074 total crashes in 2024, resulting in 155 fatalities.

In Fort Worth, a crash occurs roughly every 18 minutes. The I-35 corridor, particularly near Sycamore School Road, is a high-volume freight route where passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers constantly interact. When you add a wrong-way DUI driver to this mix, the results are almost always fatal.

Learn more about the legal process in our video “What Is the Process for a Personal Injury Claim?” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwzYymneDVs

Who Is Liable? Beyond the Drunk Driver

In a case as egregious as the one involving Sgt. Randolph, the driver is the obvious defendant. However, our 27+ years of experience, led by Ralph Manginello and former insurance defense attorney Lupe Peña, teaches us to look at the entire “collection stack.”

1. The Dram Shop Liability (The Bar or Restaurant)

Under the Texas Dram Shop Act (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 2.02), any establishment that serves alcohol to an “obviously intoxicated” person can be held liable for the damages that person causes.

Evans admitted to drinking 10 shots in four hours. Biologically, for most people, 10 shots in that timeframe would result in a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) far beyond the legal limit of 0.08%, likely pushing into the 0.20% range or higher. Signs of obvious intoxication—slurred speech, stumbling, glassy eyes—would have been apparent to any trained server.

If a Fort Worth bar or restaurant continued to serve her, they are a deep-pocket commercial defendant. These establishments typically carry $1 million or more in liquor liability insurance. At Attorney911, we investigate bar tabs, surveillance footage, and TABC training records to hold these businesses accountable.

2. The Initial Tractor-Trailer Crash

Sgt. Randolph was on the scene because of a crash involving a tractor-trailer. In trucking litigation, we often look at “secondary crashes.” If the initial trucking company was negligent in causing the first wreck—perhaps through an FMCSA violation like Hours of Service or faulty equipment—they may share proximate cause for the environment that led to the Sergeant’s death.

I-35 is a primary NAFTA corridor. If that tractor-trailer belonged to a major carrier like Knight-Swift, J.B. Hunt, or Werner Enterprises, their safety protocols and the reason for the initial blockage become central to the investigation.

3. Punitive Damages and the Felony Exception

Texas law generally caps punitive (exemplary) damages under Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 41.008. However, there is a felony exception. Because Evans was convicted of intoxication manslaughter—a second-degree felony—the statutory caps on punitive damages are blown wide open. In a civil suit, a jury could award an unlimited amount to punish this behavior and deter others in Fort Worth from doing the same.

Why Attorney911 Is Different: The Insurance Defense Advantage

Most law firms see a DUI crash and think it’s a simple case. We know better. Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, spent years working for a national defense firm. He knows exactly how insurance companies for bars and trucking companies try to shift blame.

“I’ve seen the other side’s playbook,” Lupe often notes. “They will try to argue that the victim was partially at fault for where they were standing, or that the driver’s intoxication was so extreme it was ‘unforeseeable’ by the bar. We don’t let them get away with those arguments because we’ve made them ourselves in the past.”

Having a former insurance defense attorney on your side is a nuclear advantage. We know how Colossus and other claim-valuation software will look at a Fort Worth crash, and we know how to present the evidence to force a maximum settlement.

Proving the Case: The 48-Hour Evidence Window

In the aftermath of a crash on I-35, evidence begins to disappear immediately.
* Surveillance Footage: Bars in Fort Worth often overwrite their security footage every 7 to 14 days.
* Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Data: If a tractor-trailer was involved, the black box data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days.
* Witness Memories: People who saw Evans driving the wrong way or saw her drinking at a bar will forget details quickly.

We move fast. Within 24 hours of being retained, we send out preservation letters (spoliation demands) to ensure that no bar, trucking company, or digital record-keeper deletes the evidence we need to win.

Watch our video “What Should I Do First After an Accident?” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCox4Lq7zBM

Documented Results in Catastrophic Cases

We don’t just talk about fighting; we have the track record to prove it. Ralph Manginello is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and was involved in the BP Texas City Refinery explosion litigation—a $2.1 billion matter. We are not intimidated by large corporations or aggressive insurance adjusters.

Our documented results include:
* “At Attorney911, our personal injury attorneys have helped numerous injured individuals and families facing trucking-related wrongful death cases recover millions of dollars in compensation”
* “Multi-million dollar settlement for client who suffered brain injury with vision loss when log dropped on him at logging company”
* “In a recent case, our client’s leg was injured in a car accident. Staff infections during treatment led to a partial amputation. This case settled in the millions”

Every case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but they do demonstrate that we have the resources and the tenacity to handle the most complex Fort Worth accident cases.

The Human Cost: Wrongful Death of a 29-Year Veteran

Sgt. Billy Randolph gave 29 years of his life to the Fort Worth Police Department. Under Texas law, his surviving spouse, children, and parents have the right to file a wrongful death claim. This isn’t just about medical bills; it’s about:
* Loss of Earning Capacity: The income and benefits he would have earned over the remainder of his career.
* Loss of Consortium: The profound impact on his marriage and family relationships.
* Mental Anguish: The emotional trauma of losing a loved one in such a violent, preventable way.

For a veteran officer, the “loss of guidance” for his children and the “loss of companionship” for his spouse are massive components of a wrongful death claim that insurance companies routinely try to lowball.

Learn more in our video “What Is Fair Compensation for Pain and Suffering?” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG07vbB4cdU

Frequently Asked Questions for Fort Worth Accident Victims

1. What if the drunk driver has no insurance or assets?

In about 14% of Texas crashes, the driver is uninsured. In cases like the Fort Worth I-35 crash, the driver’s personal limits ($30,000) are almost always insufficient. This is why we look for Dram Shop liability (the bar) and UM/UIM coverage on your own policy. Most people don’t realize their own insurance may pay for their injuries if the at-fault driver can’t. Watch “Uninsured & Underinsured Motorists” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWcNFyb-Yq8.

2. Can I sue the bar if the driver was a “regular” and they knew she drank too much?

Yes. In fact, if an establishment has a pattern of over-serving a specific patron, it strengthens the argument for gross negligence, which can lead to punitive damages.

3. How long do I have to file a claim in Fort Worth?

Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death is generally two years. However, if you are filing a claim against a government entity (like if road design contributed), you may have as little as six months to provide formal notice.

4. What is a Stowers demand?

A Stowers demand is a powerful tool we use in Texas. If we offer to settle for the insurance policy limits and the insurance company refuses, they may become responsible for the entire jury verdict, even if it’s millions of dollars over their policy limit. This forces them to take your case seriously.

5. Does it matter that the driver was on probation?

In a civil case, the driver’s criminal history and the fact that she was on probation for a deadly weapon charge go toward her “fitness” to be on the road and can be used to argue for higher punitive damages. It shows a pattern of disregard for the law and public safety.

Your Legal Emergency Lawyers™ in Fort Worth

The loss of Sgt. Billy Randolph is a tragedy that didn’t have to happen. It was the result of a series of negligent choices—by the driver and potentially by the establishments that served her.

At Attorney911, we treat every case like a legal emergency. Whether it’s an 18-wheeler wreck on I-35, a DUI crash in downtown Fort Worth, or a wrongful death on a Tarrant County FM road, we are ready to fight for you.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t get paid unless we win your case. You have enough to worry about; let us handle the insurance companies, the corporate lawyers, and the complex Texas legal system.

Don’t wait for the evidence to disappear. Call Attorney911 right now at 1-888-ATTY-911 or (713) 528-9070. Hablamos Español.

For more information on 18-wheeler accidents, watch “The Victim’s Guide to 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEHIxZTbK8.

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC
Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Principal Office: 1177 West Loop S, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027
Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Serving Fort Worth and all of Texas.
1-888-ATTY-911 | https://attorney911.com

This information is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact us for a free consultation about your specific situation.