Hacienda Grill License Revoked After Serving Minor Involved in Deadly Crash

Salinas – The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has revoked the alcoholic beverage license of Hacienda Grill in Salinas after an employee furnished alcohol to a minor, who was subsequently involved in a deadly car crash on May 27, 2023.

The revocation is stayed one year to transfer the license with an indefinite suspension until the license is transferred. Alcohol sales are prohibited at Hacienda Grill indefinitely.

ABC opened a TRACE (Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies) investigation immediately after the crash to determine the source of the alcohol the underage driver consumed. ABC agents determined that Hacienda Grill server Diego Resendez furnished the alcoholic beverages. After leaving the bar, the 16-year-old drove his vehicle under the influence of alcohol on the wrong side of the road and crashed head-on into another vehicle, resulting in the death of a passenger in the other vehicle and injuring three others.

“Preventing underage drinking is a public safety priority,” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough. “We want to remind licensees and employees to check IDs carefully and help keep Californians safe.”

ABC sought disciplinary action against Hacienda Grill for furnishing alcohol to a minor and furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor causing great bodily injury or death. In response to the accusations, the licensee signed a settlement agreement. Under the agreement, the license is suspended indefinitely with revocation stayed for a period of one year to allow for the license to be transferred.

The TRACE program is made possible by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The grant provides funding for ABC investigations of alcohol-related incidents that involve a person under the age of 21 causing great bodily injury or death, or anyone charged with vehicular manslaughter that was under the influence of alcohol regardless of their age.

Contact

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Public Information Office
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: pio@abc.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 419-2525

Follow ABC on Twitter
Follow ABC on Facebook