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Tempe Leaders Press State to Revoke Tempe Tavern’s License After Fatal Hit-and-Run Link

City officials are urging the liquor board to act after two raids found widespread underage drinking at the bar.

Overview

  • Police say a 19-year-old ASU student visited Tempe Tavern late Sept. 13 before a Sept. 14 hit-and-run that killed an 18-year-old motorcyclist, and she later surrendered on a felony failure-to-stop charge.
  • Investigators reported that the motorcyclist first collided with a Waymo self-driving vehicle near Rural Road and Lemon Street before being struck by a fleeing Chevrolet Camaro.
  • Tempe Police cited about 249 underage patrons during a Nov. 20 operation at Tempe Tavern and nearly 170 in April, and fire inspectors noted at least one violation during the November sweep.
  • The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control is conducting a separate investigation into the bar, according to police.
  • The victim’s family and a Tempe councilmember are calling for the bar’s liquor license to be revoked, as students and a reporter described lax ID checks and common use of sophisticated fake IDs.