California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
04/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/25/2024 17:25
Potter Valley Restaurant Receives 20-Day Suspension for Serving Alcohol to Minors Later Involved in Deadly Crash
Potter Valley - The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has suspended the license of Hopper's Corner Saloon in Potter Valley after an employee furnished alcohol to a group of underage persons who were subsequently involved in a deadly car crash on December 26, 2022. Alcohol sales are prohibited until the suspension period ends.
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 Hopper's Corner Saloon server Fabio Serra furnished the alcoholic beverages. After leaving the bar, 18-year-old Samuel Caldwell drove his vehicle under the influence of alcohol and crashed. The car crash killed one passenger and injured two other passengers.
"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 Hopper's Corner Saloon's alcoholic beverage license 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 for 20 days.
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: [email protected]
Phone: (916) 419-2525