2 South Jersey Bars To Lose License After Fatal DWIs: Authorities

Two South Jersey bars, including one that served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated off-duty cop, are losing their liquor licenses after their customers drove while intoxicated and caused three fatal accidents, authorities announced.

High Street at Burlington County, which owns the license for Brickwall Tavern and Dining, has had its liquor license suspended as of Feb. 3, according to authorities. It was also fined $300,000.

It and Alloway Wines and Liquors, Inc. will each have their licenses suspended for 30 days and give up interest in their licenses within two years, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) announced.

Alloway Wines and Liquors, which owns a license for Alloway Village Inn in Salem County, was fined $175,000 for serving customers who went on to cause fatal accidents in 2013 and 2015, according to authorities. Its suspension begins Sept. 4.

Justin Rodriguez, 25, was drinking at Brickwall Dining and Tavern from 10 p.m. until 1:40 a.m. on Sept. 23, 2016, according to authorities. After he left the bar, he lost control of the Acura Integra he was driving on West Front Street and hit a utility pole at about 2:10 a.m.

His passenger, 27-year-old Ariana Williams of Florence, was killed in the crash, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. Rodriguez was ejected from the car, and taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton. He was discharged from the hospital three days later. He was arrested less than a month later.

Rodriguez’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was .15 percent at about 1 a.m., according to ABC forensic experts. Williams’ was .22 percent when she was served her last drink, according to authorities.

According to experts, the vast majority of drinkers are “apparently intoxicated” at a BAC of .15%. In New Jersey, a BAC of .08% is the legal limit for driving.

In May 2017, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated. Later that year, he was sentenced to four years in state prison.

Alloway Village Inn’s settlement resolves charges stemming from two incidents, the first of which occurred on May 9, 2013, according to authorities.

Kenneth Furr, 30, of Woodstown, had been drinking at the bar from 2:30 p.m. until 3:40 p.m., according to authorities. After leaving the bar, Furr rear-ended a car on Old King’s Highway at about 4 p.m. The driver of the other car and the passenger were killed.

At the time of the crash, Furr’s BAC was approximately .31%. At the time he consumed his last drink at the bar, his BAC was .20%. In March 2014, Furr pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and assault by auto. In May 2014, Furr was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

The second incident involving Alloway Village Inn occurred on November 29, 2015.

Matthew Moore, 55 of Lower Alloways Creek, was involved in a fatal accident on Waterworks Road after drinking at the bar from 5 p.m. until midnight, according to authorities. At about 12:45 a.m., Moore’s car left the road and struck a tree. Moore was injured in the crash and his passenger was killed.

At the time of the crash, Moore’s BAC was between .17% and .23%. His BAC had reached .15% as of 10:40 p.m. At the time of his death, Moore’s passenger’s BAC was .19%. In December 2018, a jury convicted Moore of vehicular homicide. In March 2019, he was sentenced to three years in prison.