Fresno store clerk who sold liquor to teen involved in fatal crash has been arrested

An employee of a Fresno liquor store was arrested on Thursday and the store’s liquor license was revoked after an investigation found it had sold alcohol to a 16-year-old prior to a fatal crash last September.

According to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the 16-year-old bought alcohol twice from University Deli Liquor on Barstow Avenue on the same night he was involved in the crash near Hoover High School.

That crash killed 15-year-old Lilyana Romero and injured four others, including one who was paralyzed. A 17-year-old who was driving the car ran away from the scene and was later arrested by Fresno police for felony DUI, which prompted ABC to trace the source of the alcohol.

Agents arrested 37-year-old Hassan Israr Mian on Thursday.

He is suspected of being the person who sold the beverages, the department said.

“Preventing youth access to alcohol and protecting communities from the dangers associated with these violations is a priority,” ABC Director Eric Hirata said in a statement.

“ABC licensees must remain vigilant and carefully check identifications to prevent minors from gaining access to alcohol at their establishments.”

The store’s owner has signed an agreement accepting the penalty, according to the statement.

ABC has issued a 180-day stay on the revocation to allow for the transfer of the license to a new owner. Alcohol sales are prohibited at the store until the license is transferred.

Agents posted a notice of suspension inside the store on Thursday.