New information has been released regarding the penalties levied against Chapel Hill restaurants La Res and He’s Not Here for their involvement in the fatal wrong-way crash earlier this summer.
Authorities say that on the night of July 19, 20-year-old Chandler Michael Kania used a fake ID to drink at La Res and He’s Not Here.
Later that evening, Kania was allegedly driving north in the southbound lanes near the split of I-85 and Interstate 40 when his SUV collided with a vehicle driven by Felecia Harris. Harris and 2 of her passengers were killed in the wreck, including a six-year-old girl. A nine-year-old girl was the lone passenger to survive the crash.
Toxicology tests show that Kania’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit under North Carolina law. Because Kania is underage, any alcohol in his system would have been illegal.
La Res initially agreed to pay a $5,000 fine to avoid a 50-day suspension of its alcohol permits, but members of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission rejected that deal last month, saying they wanted to send a message about underage drinking.
According to ABC Commission spokeswoman Agnes Stevens, a new settlement has been proposed in which La Res’ alcohol permits would be suspended for 50 days, starting Dec. 18.
However, the final 36 days of the penalty would be lifted if the bar pays a $5,000 fine by Dec. 11.
If that fine is paid on time, the 14-day suspension would end at midnight Dec. 31, meaning La Res could start serving alcohol to ring in the new year.
The offer is not final until it is ratified by the Commission, which could happen at their meeting next Wednesday.
He’s Not Here is scheduled to have their day in front of Administrative Law Judge Randolph Ward in January.
Meanwhile, Kania is under house arrest in Asheboro while he awaits trial on multiple charges, including three counts each of second degree murder and felony death by motor vehicle. Kania is set to appear in court on January 12.
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