Belleville bars linked to car crash lose liquor licences

By Miller Reynolds

Two Belleville bars have lost their liquor licenses after being linked to a fatal crash on Highway 401.

The licenses was revoked after Angry Beaver employee Korin Howes spent approximately 16 hours on Feb 5-6 at the bar before getting in a red Hyundai and leaving. Howes then drove in the wrong direction of the eastbound lane of the 401 where her car collided with Loyalist College nursing student Shaina Harrison’s vehicle. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The Angry Beaver and the Beaver Dam were given 15 days to appeal an interim suspension given to them by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Co-owners David Jordan Stoll and Phillip Sztejnmiler did not appeal the suspension and their license was revoked said AGCO spokesperson Lisa Murray.

Stoll and Sztejnmiler were not available for comment.

Murray says interim suspensions are rare but are given when the AGCO is not confident that an establishment will sell and serve responsibly.

“There was a situation that lead to a fatality, because of the circumstances surrounding that the registrar felt that the licensee should no longer be allowed to sell and serve alcohol,” she said.

The chances of Stroll and Sztejnmiler being accepted for another liquor license in the next two years is slim says Murray. They are able to apply but it’s unlikely that they would be granted a license before the two year period is done she said. Even after the two-year period is done, Stoll and Sztejnmiler still have a chance to have their liquor license application rejected if the choose to apply she said.

The suspension given by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario listed multiple infractions including failing to remove evidence of service, selling and serving outside of prescribed business hours, promoting immoderate consumption and permitting drunkenness, and offering liquor free of charge.

Tammy Coleman, provincial constable and media relations officer, says the investigation is ongoing.

“The investigation is not complete, it is still being investigated by our crime unit and charges have not been laid at this time,” she said.

In recent reports both pubs have been put up for sale and furniture and equipment have been moved out.