Tragedy At The Roadhouse: 5 Shocking Facts About The Texas Roadhouse Child Death Lawsuit

The tragic death of 13-year-old Leonardo "Leo" Camacho has thrust Texas Roadhouse into the center of a high-stakes legal battle, raising critical questions about restaurant liability and public safety. This case, which recently went to trial, has drawn national attention to Georgia's Dram Shop Act and the responsibilities of establishments that serve alcohol. The family of the deceased sought a massive $95 million in damages, alleging the restaurant's actions contributed directly to the fatal incident. As of late 2025, the latest updates reveal the conclusion of this emotional and complex trial. The jury's final verdict has clarified the legal standing of the restaurant chain in this specific case, but the broader conversation about accountability in drunk driving tragedies remains a difficult and pressing issue for communities across the country.

Leonardo "Leo" Camacho: A Life Cut Short by Tragedy

Leonardo "Leo" Camacho was a 13-year-old boy whose life was tragically ended in a devastating drunk driving incident. While a full public biography is not available, the court proceedings and family statements paint a picture of a young man actively involved in his community.

• Name: Leonardo "Leo" Camacho
• Age: 13 years old
• Incident Location: Kelly Mill Road, Cumming, Georgia
• Circumstances of Death: Fatally struck by a drunk driver while performing yard work with his father.
• Date of Death: Leo died three days after the crash.
• Family: His father, Jose Camacho, was also struck but survived the crash.
• Community Connection: The incident occurred while Leo and his father were working at the Christ Culture Center church in Cumming.

The $95 Million Lawsuit and the Dram Shop Act

The Camacho family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Texas Roadhouse, seeking $95 million in damages. This civil case was not directed at the driver alone, but at the restaurant for its alleged role in the tragedy. The core of the legal argument centered on a crucial piece of legislation: the Georgia Dram Shop Act.

What is the Georgia Dram Shop Act?

The Georgia Dram Shop Act (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-40) is a law that allows an establishment to be held liable for injuries or deaths caused by an intoxicated patron. For a claim to be successful, the plaintiff must prove two key elements:

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• The establishment "willfully, knowingly, and unlawfully" served alcohol to a person who was "visibly intoxicated."
• The establishment knew the person would soon be driving a motor vehicle.

In the Camacho case, the family's attorneys argued that the Texas Roadhouse location in Cumming, Georgia, violated this act by serving the driver, Katie Pancione, a pint of beer just minutes before the crash. The legal filing alleged that Pancione was already visibly intoxicated when she was served the final drink, making the restaurant complicit in the subsequent accident that claimed Leo's life and injured his father.

The Tragic Timeline of the Incident

The incident that led to the lawsuit unfolded rapidly. The driver, Katie Pancione, had been a patron at the Texas Roadhouse location. She was served alcohol and shortly thereafter drove away. Minutes after leaving the restaurant, Pancione was driving a white SUV when she lost control and struck Leo and his father, Jose Camacho, who were performing yard work at a nearby church.

Leo Camacho was critically injured in the collision and succumbed to his injuries three days later. The gravity of the situation transformed what began as a routine day of community service into a profound tragedy, sparking the intense legal scrutiny of the restaurant's serving practices.

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The Verdict: Texas Roadhouse Cleared of Liability

In a significant and highly anticipated development, an Atlanta jury ultimately sided with Texas Roadhouse. The jury's verdict, delivered after deliberation, cleared the restaurant chain of liability in the tragic death of Leo Camacho.

The core of the jury's finding was that the driver, Katie Pancione, was 100% at fault for the accident. While the jury acknowledged the driver's intoxication, they did not find sufficient evidence to hold the restaurant responsible under the strict requirements of the Georgia Dram Shop Act. This decision underscores the difficulty in proving the two necessary elements—that the server knew the patron was visibly intoxicated and knew they would be driving.

This verdict, while a legal victory for the restaurant, was a devastating blow to the Camacho family, who had hoped to hold the corporation accountable for what they viewed as negligent service of alcohol. The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal complexities surrounding restaurant liability for drunk driving accidents and the high bar set by the Dram Shop Act.

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Other Incidents and the Pattern of Restaurant Liability

While the Leo Camacho case is the most recent and prominent, it is not the only instance where Texas Roadhouse has faced legal action related to a child's death caused by an intoxicated patron. These related cases provide crucial context for understanding the ongoing debate about corporate responsibility in public safety.

• The Gisele Jarmon Case (2015): In a similar incident, Texas Roadhouse was sued by the family of Gisele Jarmon, who was killed by a drunk driver named Michael Keene on June 15, 2015. The lawsuit claimed that the restaurant served Keene an "excessive number of alcoholic" drinks before he caused the fatal crash. This case, like the Camacho suit, was a critical test of the Dram Shop Act in holding establishments accountable for over-serving patrons.
• The Fort Myers Teenagers' Crash: The restaurant chain also mourned the loss of five teenagers, four of whom were employees at the Fort Myers location, who died in a separate crash. While this incident did not involve a Dram Shop claim against the restaurant, it highlights the broader impact of tragic accidents on the Texas Roadhouse community.
• High Point, NC Incidents: Local police reports from High Point, North Carolina, have referenced other fatal traffic crashes near the restaurant, including a "Child Dies After Hit-and-Run Crash" and a "toddler" death investigation in late 2024. These separate events contribute to the public conversation about safety and the proximity of such tragedies to popular establishments.

The collective weight of these incidents—particularly the Dram Shop Act lawsuits—demonstrates a persistent legal struggle by families to expand the scope of liability beyond the individual drunk driver to the commercial entities that profit from serving alcohol. The outcomes of these cases, including the recent Camacho verdict, continue to shape the interpretation of state laws and the operational practices of restaurants nationwide.