Bar Louie, Tequila Sunset added to lawsuit for allegedly ‘overserving’ alcohol to man who fatally crashed into woman on causeway

MCALLEN, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — An amended petition has been filed in the wrongful death lawsuit of a 20-year-old Valley woman that now alleges two South Padre Island restaurants over-served alcohol to the suspect.

Hugo Ernesto Lara, 48, was arrested on a charge of intoxication manslaughter in connection to a June 2 crash that killed Mariah Desiree Enriquez of Edinburg.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred at 1:45 a.m. Sunday on the causeway. DPS said a 2023 white Ford F-150, driven by Lara, was traveling westbound on the eastbound lane and crashed into the Kia driven by Enriquez.

She died from her injuries at the scene.

The amended lawsuit now includes Bar Louie and Tequila Sunset as defendants, alleging their role in over-serving alcohol to Lara played a factor in the fatal crash on the Queen Isabella Causeway.

This action comes amid reports of a potential criminal investigation into the establishments that allegedly over-served and sold alcohol to Lara, ultimately resulting in the wrongful death of the woman.

According to the lawsuit, Bar Louie allegedly served Lara alcohol from approximately 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on June 1, 2024, despite clear signs of intoxication. Tequila Sunset then criminally continued to serve Lara from about 9:30 p.m. on June 1 until approximately 12:30 a.m. on June 2, 2024.

Neither establishment made any apparent effort to prevent Lara from driving while intoxicated, the document stated.

The expansion of the lawsuit follows a deposition given by Atanacio Salinas, a key witness in the case, at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center.

Salinas was initially held at the South Padre Island City Jail for three days following the incident, during which he provided a videotaped interview to criminal investigators from the Department of Public Safety and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

The lawsuit now includes claims against Bar Louie and Tequila Sunset under the Texas Dram Shop Act, which holds alcohol providers liable for damages caused by obviously intoxicated patrons to whom they continued to serve alcohol.

“These establishments must be held accountable for their role in this tragedy,” Attorney J. Michael Moore said. “Their apparent prioritization of profit over patron and public safety has resulted in an irreplaceable loss. We are committed to seeking justice for Mariah and her family, both through this civil action and by cooperating fully with any criminal investigation that may arise. Justice for Mariah and her family must be served to the fullest extent allowed by law. Greed over safety resulted in Mariah’s death.”

The lawsuit seeks damages for wrongful death, survival claims, and exemplary damages.

A jury trial has been demanded.

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