ABC suspends Salinas restaurant's liquor license following investigation into fatal 2023 crash.

Hacienda Mexican Grill has had its liquor licenses suspended indefinitely by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The announcement came following a lengthy investigation into a deadly 2023 collision that killed a mother of three. ABC determined that a server at the Salinas restaurant, identified by the agency as Diego Resendez, provided alcoholic beverages to an underage patron. Moments after leaving the establishment, the then-16-year-old pulled onto N. Davis Road in Salinas, crossed the line into oncoming traffic and crashed into Dodge Journey, killing the passenger and injuring the driver. (The 16-year-old and his passenger were also seriously injured.)

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

Salinas Police found that the 16-year-old was without a driver’s license. At the time of the accident, authorities registered a blood alcohol level two times above the legal limit.

ABC agreed to suspend the restaurant’s liquor licenses—type 47, also known as a full liquor license, and type 58 for sales while catering—withholding a revocation for one year in order to allow the license to be transferred to another establishment.

Hacienda Mexican Grill is barred from any alcohol sales during this process. The restaurant remains open.

A search found no previous ABC investigations of Hacienda Mexican Grill for serving alcohol to a minor. The license was issued to the restaurant in 2018.

Restaurant management could not be reached for comment by press time.