Louisville, Ky. – A restaurant in Louisville’s Hikes Point neighborhood is under investigation by the Louisville Metro Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) after allegedly overserving alcohol to a customer, who later caused a fatal crash.
Victoria Mexican Restaurant, located on Hike Lane near Klondike Lane, could lose its liquor license following a tragic incident on October 29, 2024. According to Louisville police, Victor Dominquez, 36, consumed seven 32-ounce beers over several hours before getting behind the wheel of his vehicle. Dominquez then struck and killed a pedestrian crossing Breckinridge Lane near Interstate 264.
Dominquez was arrested the night of the crash and, according to the police citation, had a blood alcohol concentration of .202, well above the legal limit. He was indicted for murder in December 2024 and faces additional charges, including assault, wanton endangerment, and driving under the influence. He is scheduled to appear in court again on April 4, 2025.
During an ABC hearing on Tuesday, officials focused on the role of the restaurant’s staff in the incident. Lashae Richie, with the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, testified that Dominquez was served not just six, but seven large beers that evening, despite the apparent signs of intoxication. Richie emphasized the timeline, explaining that Dominquez was overserved over the course of five to five and a half hours before getting behind the wheel and causing the fatal crash.
The restaurant’s owner, who was out of the country at the time of the incident, testified that she was not involved in hiring or training the server who served Dominquez. The owner, who had left the country for a funeral, expressed remorse over the event, stating that such an incident would not have occurred if she had been present.
Attorneys representing the restaurant pointed to the absence of the owner as a factor in the tragedy. “When the cat is away, … look at the suffering that resulted for families in this community because of what happened,” said Matthew Lemme, an attorney representing Victoria Mexican Restaurant.
The ABC hearing also revealed that the restaurant had failed to maintain proper records and had sold alcohol to an intoxicated person. Additionally, employees were reportedly drinking on the job, though it was noted that while drinking at work is not illegal, the failure to pay for those drinks is a violation.
In her testimony, the restaurant owner explained that she typically oversees situations where customers may have consumed too much alcohol. However, she stated that she was not present on the night of the incident. “That’s a ridiculous amount of alcohol to have been served,” Lemme said. “That’s improper. That’s inappropriate. That was wrong. That shouldn’t have happened. It wouldn’t have happened had she been there.”
The case raises broader questions about the responsibility of alcohol servers and whether mandatory training should be required for recognizing intoxicated patrons. While the state offers training programs, they are not mandatory. “You don’t have a right to an ABC license—it’s a privilege,” Richie noted. “ABC does not have to provide that training. ABC doesn’t provide training because we’re not required to, because it’s a privilege.”
As the hearing continues, the future of Victoria Mexican Restaurant’s liquor license remains uncertain. Authorities are determining the potential consequences the establishment may face as a result of the overserving incident and its role in the tragedy. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how alcohol service regulations are enforced in Louisville and beyond.
