EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Hope and Anchor bar has released a statement after a 19-year-old woman was arrested in connection with last week’s deadly hit-and-run crash, in which she said she was drinking with her “sugar daddy” at the bar prior to the crash.
Hope and Anchor, which has operated in El Paso since 2009, released a statement on Monday responding to the crash involving 19-year-old Ambar Chavira, who is accused of driving the vehicle that caused a crash that killed 56-year-old Jaime Andrade.
In a statement emailed to KFOX14/CBS4 on Monday, the bar said it was presented with a fake ID on the evening of the crash, adding that it requires ID checks for guests who appear to be under 30 and that when someone presents what appears to be a valid, government-issued ID, “Texas law considers that due diligence fulfilled.”
“Our hearts go out to the Andrade family. Jaime Andrade was a member of this community, and his loss is a tragedy. Hope and Anchor has been part of the El Paso community for over 16 years. We are a neighborhood bar, and we take our responsibilities as a licensed establishment very seriously. It’s how we have operated since our inception. We are cooperating fully with TABC and stand by our staff’s training, our ID verification protocols, and our legally vetted handbooks. Fake IDs are a persistent challenge facing every licensed establishment in El Paso and across Texas, and we card every guest who appears to be under the age of 30,” Hope and Anchor said.
Additionally, the bar said the establishment has “never received a citation or violation from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission” and is cooperating with the state agency.
The statement comes after the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission said last week it is investigating the incident and seeks to determine whether alcohol was served in violation of state law prior to the crash.
Authorities say the crash happened around 9:17 p.m. on April 6 in the 6300 block of North Desert Boulevard.
Investigators report that four vehicles were involved in the collision, which ultimately claimed the life of one driver.
Police identified the suspect as Chavira, who is accused of operating a silver 2016 BMW 428i at the time of the crash.
According to a complaint affidavit, Chavira allegedly failed to control her speed and rear-ended another vehicle, triggering a chain-reaction collision. One of the impacted vehicles, a Subaru Outback, was driven by Andrade, who later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Authorities allege that Chavira fled the scene on foot instead of remaining to render aid or provide information, as required by law.
According to the affidavit, Chavira’s mom reported her daughter to police, saying she had fled from the scene.
Investigators later tracked her to a residence on Rosa Gandara Drive, where officers reported she showed signs of intoxication.
According to the affidavit, Chavira admitted to consuming multiple alcoholic beverages prior to the crash.
She told officers she had been drinking at the Hope and Anchor bar with her “sugar daddy” before attempting to drive home.
After the collision, she acknowledged leaving the scene despite being advised to stay and call 911.
She was taken into custody and charged with a collision involving death, a serious felony offense under Texas law.
Chavira was later released on bond.
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