Incident Summary
On New Year’s Day 2026 in Dallas, Texas, a drunk driver, 23-year-old Michael McRae, speeding and weaving through lanes on Central Expressway, slammed into a family’s vehicle. The crash flipped the car, ejecting 7-year-old Saeed Abbasov 60 feet. Saeed suffered severe injuries, including a mangled leg that required emergency amputation. He turned 8 days later while recovering in the hospital.
Victim’s Account and Resilience
Saeed’s mother, Ruksara Abbasova, described the horror: she found him on the ground surrounded by blood, initially unsure of the source until realizing his leg was gone. “When I saw him on the ground, I thought that I would lose him,” she told KDFW. Saeed himself showed remarkable spirit, saying, “The main thing is that I’m alive. I’m with you, mom. With my family. I know that I will be good. I will be better.” Despite the trauma, he expressed gratitude for surviving.
Legal Consequences for Driver
McRae faces serious charges:
- Intoxication assault with serious bodily injury
- Failure to maintain financial responsibility (no insurance)
- Resisting arrest
Witnesses reported his erratic driving for miles prior. He’s out on bond awaiting his next court date. Under Texas law (Penal Code §49.07), intoxication assault is a second-degree felony if it causes serious bodily injury, carrying 2-20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Aggravating factors like speeding could enhance penalties.
Broader Context on Drunk Driving in Texas
Texas sees over 1,300 alcohol-related fatal crashes yearly (per 2024 NHTSA data), with DUI laws strict but enforcement varying by jurisdiction. Dallas County prosecutors often pursue max sentences in child injury cases. Families like the Abbasovs may qualify for victim compensation funds or civil suits for medical costs, prosthetics, and pain/suffering—Saeed will need lifelong support like adaptive prosthetics (costing $10K+ initially).
This tragedy underscores risks on major highways like I-35E (Central Expressway). If you’re following similar cases or need Texas DUI stats/resources, let me know for more details.
