BARSTOW, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Bill’s Market in Barstow has been suspended from selling alcohol for 20 days after California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control investigators determined the store sold alcohol to a 19-year-old who was later involved in a fatal DUI crash in Victorville that killed a woman and injured a man.
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) suspended the license of Bill’s Market, located at 1234 W. Main St. in Barstow, on June 12, 2026, following a TRACE investigation into the crash.
According to information shared by ABC, the investigation found that on Sept. 18, 2025, an employee at Bill’s Market sold three alcoholic beverages to a teen, who later consumed the alcohol and, at about 4:19 a.m. the following morning, was driving at a high rate of speed eastbound on Mojave Drive when he crashed into the rear of a vehicle stopped at the intersection of Sixth Street near Victor Valley High School.
According to a written statement from Mara Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, a white Buick LaCrosse was stopped at the intersection when it was rear-ended by a gray Chevy Colorado traveling eastbound on Mojave Drive.
The Colorado was driven by Luis Eduardo Nolasco, 19, of Barstow, who was taken to the hospital, evaluated and later arrested. Rodriguez said Nolasco was allegedly driving under the influence at the time of the crash.
The adult female passenger inside the Buick was pronounced dead at the scene, while the adult male driver suffered injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office later identified the woman as 47-year-old Rosa Lidia Ceron Escobar of Victorville.
ABC said its investigation determined the collision caused great bodily injury to the 51-year-old Buick driver and the death of his passenger.
ABC launched a TRACE, or Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies, investigation after receiving information indicating underage drinking may have contributed to the crash. The investigation was conducted by agents from ABC’s TRACE Unit and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
“Restricting alcohol access for minors is critical to preventing incidents of this nature,” ABC Director Paul Tupy said. “Licensees must uphold their responsibility to serve lawfully and refrain from providing alcohol to underage individuals.”
The TRACE program is funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ABC said the grant supports investigations involving alcohol-related incidents in which a person under 21 causes great bodily injury or death, or when someone of any age is charged with vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol.
Note to readers: If you value our reporting and want to see it continue, consider becoming a monthly supporter. Your contribution helps keep independent, local news accessible to everyone. Support local news today!
