Court Opinion

ID: 9684223
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 13:51:01.523573+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:54.084830
License: Public Domain

JOHNSON, J.,
filed a concurring opinion.
The offense of failure to stop and render aid is defined in Tex. Transp. Code § 550.021(c). By its terms, the statute requires that the operator of a vehicle that has been involved in an accident to do at least two of the three listed acts: stay (Tex. Transp. Code § 550.021(a)(1)) and remain (Tex. Transp. Code § 550.021(a)(3)), or return (Tex. Transp. Code § 550.021(a)(2)) and remain (Tex. Transp. Code § 550.021(a)(3)). Therefore, leaving the scene is only part of the gravamen of the offense; the operator must also remain at the scene.
“Remain” requires more than merely being present at the scene; the operator must be present at the scene until the operator has complied with the mandates of Tex. Transp. Code § 550.023, including providing name, address, and insurance information, and providing assistance to injured persons. An operator could stop at or return to the scene, yet still commit an offense under § 550.021 if, while staying at the scene, the operator refused to reveal the required information or made no effort to assist any injured party or obtain medical assistance for such a person.
With these comments, I join Judge Cochran’s concurring opinion and concur in the opinion of the Court.