Chevy’s sued for death of Sac State student
Image: Chevy’s sued for death of Sac State student:Chevy’s restaurant on 1234 Howe Ave. in Sacramento is being sued for $25 million by the family of Sacramento State student Jesse Snow, who was killed in a car accident after drinking at the establishment.Photo by Brett Rogstad/State Hornet:
December 4, 2001
A local restaurant faces a $25 million dollar lawsuit and a state investigation after allegations they served alcohol to an underage student not long before police say he caused a fatal car accident near Arden Way more than six weeks ago.
Sacramento State sophomore Jesse Snow, 20, died Oct. 25 after the car in which he was a passenger struck a light pole, nearly cutting it in half. His parents, Stephen Snow and Patricia Metzger Snow, filed a lawsuit in Superior Court last Thursday. They claim Chevy?s Restaurant, located at 1234 Howe Ave., served alcohol to driver Stephen Head, 20, even though they could see he was drunk.
The lawsuit also claims that Chevy?s did not check for proof of age before serving alcohol to Head that night, and failed to offer “assistance or restraint” for his “impaired state.”
“Bars that cater to students must be held accountable when they make their profits by dangerously loading minors up with alcohol,” said John M. Poswall, attorney for the Snow family. “Perhaps if a major bar like Chevy?s is brought into line with a punitive damages award, others will take the regulation of alcohol to minors seriously.”
The lawsuit asks for $10 million in damages and $15 million in punitive damages against Chevy?s Restaurant. The Snows are also suing the driver, Head, for $5 million in damages.
The Howe Ave. restaurant and Chevy?s corporate headquarters did not return calls from The State Hornet.
Several Sac State students told police that Head and Snow were drinking with a group of college friends at Chevy?s before leaving the restaurant and heading north on Howe Ave.after midnight.
The accident happened a few minutes later when, according to an eyewitness account, Head?s 1994 Chevy Camaro failed to negotiate a curve on Response Road and spun out of control. The vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane, striking a light pole and two trees with enough force to shear the rear axle and launch it more than 60 feet from the crash site. Snow died at UC Davis Medical Center three hours later of massive internal injuries. Head suffered a lacerated liver as well as several broken bones.
According to police, Head?s blood alcohol level was .20, more than doubling California?s legal driving limit of .08.
Authorities charged Head with felony drunk driving and vehicle manslaughter.
“He was a dangerous weapon created and put on the streets by Chevy?s,” Poswall said. “He was an accident waiting to happen. Someone?s injury or death was inevitable.”
The Snow family lawsuit isn?t Chevy?s only concern. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is investigating the matter to see whether the restaurant violated any state laws that night.
ABC spokesman Carl De Wing confirmed that Snow?s death prompted authorities to investigate Chevy?s, but would not provide more details.
Under California law, anyone furnishing alcohol to a minor who then causes great bodily injury is subject to a minimum six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
