ABC pulls liquor license from Hacienda Grill after staff member found to have served alcohol to teen involved in deadly DUI crash in Salinas

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) -- The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control announced they've indefinitely suspended the liquor license of the Hacienda Grill in Salinas after investigators found an employee served alcohol to a 16-year-old later involved in a deadly DUI crash.

The crash happened back on May 27, 2023 along North Davis Road, leaving a 33-year-old mother of three dead and another man injured, according to Salinas Police.

Following the crash, the ABC opened a "TRACE" or Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies case and found the source of the alcohol was a server at the Hacienda Grill.

The server, according to investigators, served alcohol to the 16-year-old involved in the crash.

The teen then drove their vehicle onto the wrong side of the road, resulting in a deadly head-on collision.

The mother killed in the crash was later identified by the coroner's office as Maria Viurquez-Benavidez.

In response to the accusations from investigators, the business signed a settlement agreement, under which their liquor license would be suspended indefinitely "with revocation stayed for a period of one year to allow for the license to be transferred," said the ABC.

We've reached out to the Monterey County District Attorney's office for an update on the DUI crash investigation and if the server could potentially face charges from the D.A.

Surveillance video shows moments before deadly West Salinas crash, charges 16-year-old driver may face

The general manager of Bag O' Crab, Omar Campos is showing surveillance video to show people the consequences of drinking and driving.

The video from the business that's near where the crash happens, allegedly shows the 16-year-old suspect getting into a BMW car, and driving off with a passenger. This eventually led to a crash on North Davis Road that killed a 33-year-old mother of three and injured a 44-year-old male driver inside a Dodge Journey, according to Salinas Police.

"I know it's just a horrific scene. I mean, like I've never seen I mean, like I said, I've seen accidents here before. I've seen many accidents here before and nothing like that," said Campos.

Campos was at work when the crash happened. A worker was in her car when she realized what had happened and ran into the restaurant to alert the people inside.

"There were the bumper was over here in this parking lot. And on the other side of the divider, there was more car parts, but the cars were unrecognizable. I mean, literally, I had to go to the back to kind of look what kind of what kind of cars that were driving because they weren't recognizable," said Campos.

Campos says it looked like the suspect was coming out of a nearby business, however, the Salinas Police Department was unable to confirm if the suspect was drinking at a nearby business. They did however say the 16-year-old driver was unlicensed.

"We haven't confirmed location or locations," said Brian Johnson, the Public Information Officer for The Salinas Police Department.

An attorney spoke to KION, they say a business would be in serious trouble if found responsible for serving alcohol to a minor.

“The alcohol beverage control could revoke their liquor license and from a civil law standpoint there is exposure to and responsibility for anything the young man did," said Esau Herrera, an attorney.

As for what consequences the suspects face, Herrera explains how the sentence could be light.

“If he gets charged with manslaughter, because he has no prior convictions, or because there is not immediate evidence of intent to murder the penalty maximum would be 22 years in prison as a youthful offender he could apply for a reduced sentence after serving 15 years," said Herrera.

The suspects and one surviving victim are still in the hospital as of Friday.

The victim in the crash, Maria Viurquez-Benavidez was a mother of three daughters, a student at Cal State Monterey Bay who was set to graduate in two semesters, and her loss will be forever heartbreaking to her family.

READ MORE HERE >>> Mother of three killed in West Salinas crash was set to graduate from college