Bartenders kept serving intoxicated N.J. man who later killed 3 people in Route 80 crash, lawsuit says – NJ.com
Workers at three Morristown bars are accused in a wrongful death lawsuit of over-serving a man who later drove drunk on Route 80, killing three people.
The crash occurred early on Oct. 18, 2019 on Route 80 East near mile marker 45.20 in Parsippany Troy-Hills.
The family of Ronald Francois, one of those killed in the crash two years ago, claims bartenders at Iron Bar, Revolution Social Brew House and Horseshoe Tavern kept serving Miguel A. Botero even though he was visibly drunk.
Botero, who was traveling west, “suddenly and unexpectedly” crossed over into the eastbound lanes and drove into oncoming traffic, according to the suit, filed last month in Superior Court of Essex County.
Francois, 28, of Newark, his passengers, Julia Rae Wells, 20, of Mine Hill, and Jalen Davis, 20, of Stanhope, all died at the scene of the crash.
Becky Burton of Hackettstown, mother of Julia Rae Wells, holding photos of her daughter, reacts as Superior Court Judge David Ironson announces that Miguel Botero, charged in the triple-fatal Oct. 2019 crash on Rt. 80 in Parsippany, which killed Burton’s daughter, will not be released, during a first appearance hearing in State Superior Court in Morristown on 1/17/2020.Keith A. Muccilli | For NJ Advance Media
Botero, of Dumont, survived the accident and later pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree death by auto, third-degree strict liability death by auto and driving while intoxicated. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
The lawsuit alleges that Botero was served alcohol to the point where he “lacked the capacity to adequately evaluate the risks he would confront” and was unable “to avoid injury to himself and injury and/or death” to others.
The lawsuit alleges the establishments hired incompetent bartenders, servers, bouncers and other employees and that managers failed to properly instruct and supervise the employees in their jobs.
Botero is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which accuses him of gross negligence, carelessness and misconduct.
Representatives for Iron Bar, Revolution Social Brew House and Horseshoe Tavern did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.
The lawsuit is the second filed against the bars in recent months. In December 2020, the family of Jalen Davis filed a similar suit, claiming bartenders knew or should have known that Botero was too drunk to drive.
Court records state that Francois was a father of three children. Wells was a certified makeup artist who had achieved success as a child actress, appearing with Eddie Murphy in the film “Tower Heist” and in the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire,” according to a report in the Daily Record.
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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.