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Last week, we reported about the tragic car accident that took the life of West Chester, Pennsylvania native and MTV celebrity Ryan Dunn a week ago today. A passenger, who was a friend of the Jackass star and a former marine, was also killed in the accident.
It was determined that speed and alcohol were both likely contributors to the crash after it was estimated that Dunn was driving close to 130 mph and a toxicology report found Dunn’s blood-alcohol content to be 0.198, more than twice the limit to drive in Pennsylvania.
The fiery accident occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. on westbound Route 322 close to the Pottstown exit when Dunn lost control of his car, which flipped over the guardrail and was smashed to pieces in a wooded area.
Most recently, it was reported that the West Chester bar where Dunn had been served just hours before the accident will not be criminally or administratively charged. Pennsylvania law allows for criminal or administrative charges to be brought against bars or bar employees who knowingly serve alcohol to customers who show visible signs of intoxication.
A sergeant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Enforcement said it was determined that the 34-year-old was not visibly intoxicated when he was served six shots and two beers over the span of four hours that night at Barnaby’s of America, as proved by security surveillance from the establishment.
However, the bar’s general manager indicated to police that Dunn likely had two more shots and another beer bought for him by friends and fans after he closed out his own tab.
While law enforcement officials have decided not to press charges against the bar, it might still be possible for the bar to face a civil lawsuit brought by the families of the men who perished. What do you think? Is the bar at all responsible for the accident?
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, “West Chester bar will not face charges in Ryan Dunn’s death,” Jeremy Roebuck, 6/24/2011.