New Jersey: Martell’s Tiki Bar settles two lawsuits over serving drunk professor prior to fatal crash

Ashley Chieco drunk driver was killed in crash after leaving Martell's Tiki Bar so intoxicated she drove away in wrong car.

Ashley Chieco drunk driver was killed in crash after leaving Martell’s Tiki Bar so intoxicated she drove away in wrong car.

From NJ.com

OLD BRIDGE – Martell’s Tiki Bar has agreed to settle lawsuits filed over a drunken driving accident two years ago resulting in the death of one of their patrons and the serious injury of another driver.

The bar patron, Ashley Chieco of Wood-Ridge, had been drinking for several hours and left in a vehicle that looked like hers, but was not.

Dana Corrar critically hurt by boozing patron of Martell's Tiki Bar. Photo released by her attorney

Dana Corrar critically hurt by boozing patron of Martell’s Tiki Bar. Photo released by her attorney

After the accident, two lawsuits were filed in a Middlesex County court against the popular shore bar – one by Chieco’s family, the other by the injured driver.

Dana Corrar maimed by drunk driver Ashley Chieco who left Martell's Tiki Bar. Photo courtesy of NJ.com

Dana Corrar maimed by drunk driver Ashley Chieco who left Martell’s Tiki Bar. Photo courtesy of NJ.com

Martell’s lawyers agreed to resolve the lawsuits in open court earlier this month, two attorneys involved in the case said Wednesday.

In an agreement with the judge, the attorneys and their clients have agreed not to disclose monetary amounts. Martell’s admitted no wrongdoing by settling the suits, the attorneys said.

Attorney Peter D. Manahan, who represents Martell’s, did not return several calls seeking comment.

Injured driver rushed to hospital after being hit by DWI driver from Martell's Tiki Bar photo by Dynell Saffold

Injured driver rushed to hospital after being hit by DWI driver from Martell’s Tik

“Martell’s did the right thing,” said attorney Paul Edelstein, who represents Dana Corrar of Old Bridge. “Dana was compensated adequately and fairly.”

Corrar, 57, was driving home from work Aug. 16, 2013 when she collided with an SUV that Chieco was driving the wrong way on Route 18 near the County Road 516 overpass.

Several drivers called 911 to report an erratic, wrong-way driver moments before the crash. ….MORE

 

From Car Crash Detective:

Dana Corrar maimed by drunk driver Ashley Chieco who left Martell's Tiki Bar

Dana Corrar maimed by drunk driver Ashley Chieco who left Martell’s Tiki Bar

Why:
This is another sad case of alcohol use leading to a fatality, as are 1 of every 3 traffic deaths in this country, year after year.

So many things went wrong that night, but I find myself siding with the suit against the bar. It is incredibly irresponsible to serve alcohol in a location where patrons are asked to leave their keys in their vehicles, and it would have been impossible not to notice a person as inebriated as Chieco was not capable of driving a vehicle. She should not have been allowed to enter any vehicles that night, and while she was ultimately responsible for her tragic death and the injuries imparted to Corrar, she would not have been in a position to drive away had the bar spent less time serving her alcohol and more time ensuring individuals were not allowed to drive away under the influence. A bar capable of tracking individuals’ tabs in order to obtain payment before patrons left is certainly a bar capable of calculating when individuals would not legally be capable of driving. Additionally, it is against the law to serve alcohol to patrons who are already drunk, and has been for decades. ….MORE

Crash scene where Ashley Chieco died driving drunk in a booze cruise from Martell's Tiki Bar. photo courtesy of Car Crash Detective

Crash scene where Ashley Chieco died driving drunk in a booze cruise from Martell’s Tiki Bar. photo courtesy of Car Crash Detective