Culver City Bar Loses Alcohol License After Fatal DUI Crash

Culver City CA

02 February, 2022

1:14 PM

Description

CULVER CITY, CA — The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control suspended a Culver City bar's alcohol license following a fatal DUI crash, the agency announced Tuesday. Cinema Bar, located at 3967 Sepulveda Boulevard in Culver City, is immediately prohibited from selling alcohol for 20 days — until the suspension period ends. "ABC suspended the license because Cinema Bar furnished alcohol to 20-year-old Bianca Lopez of Los Angeles," the agency said. Lopez, who was under the legal drinking age, was later involved in a deadly DUI crash April 24, 2021, on the 101 Freeway that killed a 50-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy from Santa Maria. Lopez was injured and later arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter charges. The suspension of the ABC license at Cinema Bar follows a Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies investigation, the agency said. Through the TRACE program, ABC agents opened an investigation after the early morning DUI crash that resulted in two fatalities and injuries to others. ABC agents worked closely with the California Highway Patrol which investigated the crash, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to identify where the underage driver obtained alcohol. The investigation found that a Cinema Bar employee, Roderico Castillo of Placentia, furnished alcohol to 20-year-old Lopez at the bar prior to the deadly crash, according to the agency. "Preventing underage drinking and driving is a public safety priority," ABC Director Eric Hirata said in a statement. "ABC licensees must remain vigilant and check identifications carefully to prevent these tragedies from happening." The TRACE program is made possible by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant provides funding for in-depth ABC investigations of serious incidents involving alcohol and minors, including car crashes. ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. The mission of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is to provide the highest level of service and public safety to the people of the State through licensing, education, and enforcement, the agency said.