LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville Metro ABC suspended the liquor license for Veronica's Mexican Restaurant on Poplar level Road after an investigation found someone who drank alcohol there was then involved in a crash that killed a 19-year-old passenger in the Smoketown neighborhood.
ABC said in a news release Wednesday that the emergency suspension order is part of "expanded efforts to address unsafe conditions" and improve public safety.
"Emergency Suspension Orders are not issued lightly, but when circumstances are serious and warrant intervention, we have a responsibility to act," Louisville Metro ABC Director Brad Silveria said in the news release. "Public safety remains our highest priority, and ABC will continue to work to ensure alcohol is served responsibly and in accordance with Kentucky law."
Louisville Metro Police spokesperson Adam Sears said officers responded at 4:53 p.m. May 14 to reports of an injury collision in the 700 block of Logan Street. That's between South Shelby and South Campbell streets.
Once officers arrived, they found three occupants in the car who were injured. One woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and two others were transported to UofL Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Ayanna Wilbanks, 19, of Louisville.
Later that week, LMPD officers arrested 23-year-old Dashary Ben'e. One of the two people transported to UofL Hospital, Ben'e told police she drank one margarita before the crash.
ABC Chief Investigator Ronald Fey said Ben'e's blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.168, more than twice Kentucky's legal limit for driving.
Investigators also found Wilbanks, who was under the legal drinking age, had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.18.
ABC officials said the investigation determined the women were overserved before leaving the restaurant. Fey said investigators are still examining whether staff knowingly served an underage customer or failed to check identification.
"It was clear to us through our investigation at this point that anybody, whether it be the person or anybody that was a patron in that location at the time, would have been able to clearly tell that these individuals were overserved and should not have been able to get behind the wheel of a vehicle," Fey said.
The emergency suspension requires the business to take corrective action before it can regain its liquor license. If the restaurant fails to do so, the license could be revoked.
"The financial ramifications are not something we are overly concerned with. Our main goal is public safety," Fey said. "We want successful businesses and safe businesses, so that is what the emergency suspension order starts the process for."
Ben'e was charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence, wanton endangerment, criminal mischief, failure of owner to maintain insurance and operating a vehicle while under the influence.
ABC said its investigation into possible "alcohol-related violations" at Veronica's are ongoing.
"Operations that break the law, threaten public safety and cause tragic accidents have no place in Louisville," Mayor Craig Greenberg said in the news release. "I appreciate the team at Louisville Metro ABC as we continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect residents and visitors in our city."
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