Bartender charged with serving alcohol to intoxicated man before deadly crash
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Prosecutors say a bartender who allegedly served 11 beers to a man before he got behind the wheel of a pickup truck and killed a teen girl on her prom night in 2016 was arrested by Houston police on Wednesday in connection with the incident.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office says Natalia Ortiz, 25, is charged with serving alcohol to a visibly intoxicated Edin Palacios in May 2016.
Palacios was convicted of murder in April and sentenced to 32 years in prison for the death of 18-year-old Jocelynn Valero. Police say Palacios was intoxicated when he crashed into the car carrying Jocelynn Valero, 18, and her prom date in May 2016. Valero died at the scene. Her prom date was hospitalized and survived.
“Two years and two days after the anniversary of this tragedy, it is prom season again,” Vehicular Crimes Division Chief Sean Teare said. “It is time for everyone to reflect on the responsibilities they have when serving or consuming alcohol.”
Natalia Ortiz was also charged with forgery of a government document for allegedly using a Social Security number that belong to someone else.