A Kitchener restaurant and bar contravened two parts of the Liquor Licence Act on the evening of a fatal car crash, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has ruled.
On Nov. 23, 2007, Katherine Walpole, at the time a 22-year-old Hamilton resident, entered the Moose Winooski’s restaurant in Kitchener’s Sportsworld area with her friend Kevin Block, then 21.
The two shared four pitchers of beer and then drove away with Walpole in the driver’s seat, over the objections of bar staff who had offered her a cab, threatened to call police and even ran to Walpole’s car to discourage her from driving.
Within a few minutes, the vehicle struck a utility pole on Cherry Blossom Road.
Block was killed in the crash.
Walpole was found to have had almost three times the legal limit of alcohol in her blood.
She pleaded guilty to a charge of impaired driving causing death. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
The AGCO released its decision Thursday, stating that Moose Winooski’s contravened sections of the Liquor Licence Act relating to permitting drunkenness and permitting practices which encourage overconsumption of alcohol.
Moose Winooski’s has 10 days to appeal the decision.
The maximum penalty that could be levied by the AGCO is a 45-day suspension of the bar’s liquor license.
A spokesperson for the restaurant declined comment Thursday, telling CTV News they want to review the decision before making any public statement.
