Restaurant Linked to Hit and Run Under Investigation

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Harrisonburg, Va.
Posted: 7:27 PM Jan 7, 2009
Last Updated: 7:21 PM Jan 8, 2009
Reporter: Val Thompson/Haley Harrison
Email Address: vthompson@whsv.com, hharrison@whsv.com

17 comments

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The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is investigating a local restaurant in connection with a deadly hit-and-run in Harrisonburg.

Special agents from ABC have been assigned to investigate The Pub on Deyerle Avenue to see if any employees violated state regulations.

A restaurant employee, Bethany Jones, was arrested Tuesday night in connection to a hit-and-run accident. She is accused of hitting jogger 55-year-old Sherry Anderson around 5:15 a.m. Tuesday and leaving the scene without stopping to check on Anderson. Anderson was later found dead.

Police say the suspect was working at the Pub the night before and admits to staying after her shift ended at 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Steve Jones, from the ABC Staunton Regional Office, says restaurants must meet several qualifications to serve alcohol to employees.

He says the restaurant must be closed to the public in order for employees to be allowed to drink, the employees must pay for the drinks, it must be before 2 a.m. and the employees are not allowed to get intoxicated.

In Harrisonburg Circuit Court Wednesday, police testified that while questioning Bethany, she admitted to drinking draft beers at the Pub after work early Tuesday morning. Police also say Jones left the Pub, went to another restaurant and bar called Finnigan's Cove and later returned to the Pub. They say she could not tell police how many drinks she had that night.

Steve says ABC is investigating only to determine if The Pub violated any of these rules. ABC is not involved in the criminal investigation.

This is the second time the Pub has been investigated by ABC in recent months. In August, the restaurant was given a notice for disorderly conduct.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: pub visitor Location: harrisonburg on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:41 PM
alison--this is what i say to you. The Pub is in no way responsible for the actions of "Bess",nor did I say they were responsbile for how much she drank. What they are responsible for, which I tried to make clear but you must have missed it, is how long they allow people, cusotmers or employees to remain after hours. I in no way think they should babysit their patrons or emplyoees, though it is their fault they have allowed everyone to "take advantage" as you say of the after hours partying they allow to go on. No matter what time the Pub claims they close, we all now better. Also, most of us are smart enough, while taking this advantage, not to drive ourselves home, though I appreciate the implication. Finnigans is not under investigation, because they did not allow her to come in after hours. There my dear is the difference you seem to misunderstand.

Posted by: Sherry Location: Elkton on Jan 10, 2009 at 02:10 PM
I do not feel sorry for Bess as they call her ,as she stated on tv that she thought she hit something and if she thought she hit a dog she would've stopped , where is your regard for human life, if thelaw hadn't found the broken lense and fit it to your vehicle , would you have turned yourself in, I think not. .I do however feel very bad for Mrs . Andersons family who lost a mom ,a wife, a coworker .My thoughts and prayers are with you all. As far as the Pub goes , a little late to fire her now isn't it Bill ? I think the Pub is partially responsible and should be shut down !

Posted by: Alison Location: Grottoes on Jan 8, 2009 at 07:55 PM
Pub Vistor and others likewise: I think its amazing that you would get on here to tell the world how you have DONE THE SAME THING! Thank God it wasnt you who hit a pedestrian on one of your drunken rides home from the Pub. How can you critize and say they should be punished for something you say you have personally taken advantage of?? It just as easily could have been you in the news today! The Pub is a bar! Its a place to socailize and place to drink! That is the purpose of a bar! As adults we have to make the right choices and take a D.D. It is not the pubs job to make you make grown up choices, nor was it thier job to babysit Bess. She drank at another establishment, she drove, I am sure if she would have asked someone to call her a cab that service would have been provided. Its terrible that she will have to live with this split second decision for the rest of her life, prayers are offered to EVERYONE involved from Grottoes tonight!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Harrisonburg on Jan 8, 2009 at 04:05 PM
Wow, its really a shame that this happened. I happen to know Bess and visit the pub quite often. But why is the main focus on The Pub? I like Bess she is a real genuine person but she is a grown adult & made the decision to drink & turn around & get behind the wheel. Im not saying she deserved this or the victim deserved this but people make choices. It is not The Pubs responsibility to be a baby sitter. They obvisouly had some kind of trust in Bess to make the best descision possible considering she has been working there for a while. Punishment should be given where punishment is due not attack the pub fully because a grown adult decided drink & drive. She has apparently gotten in trouble for drinking and driving already shouldnt the responsibility be focused on her. It is an unfortunate situation that this happened. My prayers are with Bess that she will be strong & have faith in god and learn her lesson. My prayers are alson with the victims family.

Posted by: Anony Location: Grottoes on Jan 8, 2009 at 02:11 PM
I don't think that the Pub should be held responsible. Ms. Jones admitted to leaving the Pub and going to Finnigan's, how did she get in there SO late and how many drinks did she have while there? In my opinion, if The Pub is under investigation, then Finnigan's should be too! And yes, maybe the Pub was in the wrong for letting her back in there, but how did they know that she apparently consumed so much alcohol to make her intoxicated. We are ALL responsible for our own actions, and should not BLAME other people or try to blame a place that serves alcohol for our actions! If we choose to drive, then it is us that should be placed at Blame. No One Else! And the Pub or any other bar for that matter can stop serving people when they believe that person has had enough, but you can always go somewhere else and drink! And lots of times, people have alcohol in their vehicles for after the clubs or whatever! So just face reality, Ms. Jones messed up, But she is taking responsibility!

Posted by: anon Location: Harrisonburg on Jan 8, 2009 at 11:10 AM
The Pub should of course be responsible for allowing employees to get into their cars drunk and go onto the highways. What are laws for? Obey the law. This is an irresponsible place of business and should suffer the penalty.

Posted by: anonymous on Jan 8, 2009 at 10:51 AM
I completely agree with pub visitor--I too have been in The Pub as a patron afterhours drinking, playing pool, and so forth--although it was several years ago. However, people need to know that this happens all over Harrisonburg at restaurants and at bars. Employees often drink after hours (along with "regulars") and if they don't go to another closed down bar, they go to a co-worker's house to drink more. I have seen this happen and it is no surprise to me that the drunk driver did this. While The Pub cannot be blamed for the lack of responsibility on the employee's part, they still should be held accountable for the law-breaking that goes on there. It truly worries me that someone had to die for this to come to light...my thoughts and condolences are extended to the victim's family.

Posted by: pub visitor Location: harrisonburg on Jan 8, 2009 at 09:24 AM
As a visitor of the pub numerous times, I myslef have stayed after last call, and much after closing. I myself have been at the Pub till at least 4am, being served drinks as a regular patron, and also watching the employees get obliterated. I know for a fact, that numerous employees leave this establishment much later than state law allows and watch everyone get into their cars for a drunken ride home. I do feel as if they should be held alittle responsible, considering this has been allowed to go on for so long, and now we know why they put rules in place for these buisnesses. I know I will be watching to see if anything changes after this, which I doubt it will.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen Location: HBurg on Jan 8, 2009 at 05:04 AM
I have to wonder if Dee read her own comment. Are we really concerned about the drunk driver taking her life into her own hands. The point is she killed an innocent person. I hope her night of drinking was worth it.

Posted by: Community Supporter Location: Harrisonburg on Jan 8, 2009 at 01:04 AM
This is truly a life changing period of time for many people directly and indirectly connected to both of the individuals that this tragic event affected. In our thoughts and reactions, as a community we should be turning to our faith and speaking encouragement into the lives of those discouraged. Pray for those who make mistakes regardless of their weight. We have all been in situations that could have negatively impacted others, but thankfully we all have God's grace. Times like this call for individuals within the community to pray.

Posted by: dee Location: harrisonburg on Jan 7, 2009 at 09:37 PM
I have been at the pub many times on nights that Bess has been there and been my server, I am not sure what goes in when the bar closes, but I know that we have to take all things into consideration. She has admitted that she did it and that she was drinking, chalk that up for her she didnt lie about being drunk, she ran away from the scene of an accident, being drunk and driving, how many times have we seen this happen, and how many times have we seen it swept under the rug, she chose her actions and her drinks, she chose to get behind the wheel and drive, taking a life into her own hands, in the eyes of the law I truly hope that she does have to pay for what she has done, stiffer alcohol laws, and if you have one DUI, take the license for more than a year, more people need to step up and take their punishment and not make excuses for them.

Posted by: LP Location: Harrisonburg on Jan 7, 2009 at 09:31 PM
If she went to Finnigans after 2 AM and was drinking there as well, shouldn't ABC be investigating them, too?

Posted by: britt Location: hburg on Jan 7, 2009 at 09:29 PM
i have to say that it is not thepubs faught she hit the women. and to me you would think she would get a cab or go stright home and not be bar hopping!!! dont hold it aganst the PUB for her being dumb. Cause the Pub will Call cabs for you I know For a Fact they Did one time for me

Posted by: fred Location: here on Jan 7, 2009 at 09:25 PM
I can't help but wonder why people who obviously have problems controlling themselves (are STUPID enough to drink THEN get behind the wheel) are even allowed to work in a bar. Many places of business run criminal background checks, credit checks, require personal references and so on. If a person has so little self control, and thinks so very little of their fellow citizens, as to drink and drive; that they cause themselves to get a DUI...pass a law prohibiting them from working in an establishment that serves alcohol. Aside from the lack of respect for themselves, ANYONE who would dare risk the lives of others by drinking and driving should face the HARSHEST of penalties, be given NO second chances and shown NO mercy. Sorry, NO sympathy here. EVERYONE KNOWS the dangers of drinking and driving. First offense, YANK the permit for life. Hopefully the HPD will target these moron magnets (bars) and treat the morons accordingly. No mercy for premeditated carelessness.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 7, 2009 at 09:17 PM
The fact that employees (and other people) drink after hours at the Pub is no secret; they've been doing it for years. They have a long history of overserving clients and many of their employees drink while on the job. It's truly unfortunate that a situation like this had to happen before something was done about it.

Posted by: Arthur Location: Harrisonburg on Jan 7, 2009 at 07:48 PM
The Pub got caught with employees drinking after hours not three months ago by an ABC Agent!!! What happened then? Nothing! ABC is just as culpable as the Pub and Miss Jones for the death of Mrs Anderson.

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