Bombshells investigated as part of deadly crash probe

The Bombshells Restaurant and Bar location in southeast Houston is seen in this June 6, 2018 photo. (KPRC)

HOUSTON – A ride-sharing passenger was killed on March 1 after the vehicle in which he was riding was hit by a driver who police said may have had numerous shots of tequila at a Bombshells in southeast Houston and who also could have been drinking at Studio 80 on NASA Parkway.

According to police, the accident happened around 1 a.m. near Pineloch Drive and Galveston Road and involved two pickup trucks and a gray Dodge sedan with an Uber sticker on it. The driver, 29-year-old Ezatullah Safi, works for both Uber and Lyft, but authorities said he was driving for Lyft at the time of the crash.

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The driver of a gray Dodge truck was traveling north on Galveston Road when he slammed into the sedan, officers say.

After the initial crash, a second truck crashed into the vehicles, police said.

Safi's back seat passenger, Billy Satterfield, 40, died in the crash. He was less than a mile from his home.

Both pickup truck drivers were evaluated for intoxication, officers said. Investigators said one driver said he had had several shots of tequila at a nearby bar, Bombshells, at 12810 Gulf Freeway near Fuqua Street, and possibly had drank at another area bar. The district attorney said the driver of the Dodge pickup truck, identified as Erik Julian Deleon, was charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.

On Monday, a district court judge granted a restraining order designed to preserve evidence that pertains to the crash.

Safi's attorney said that he wanted to look at the alcohol consumption monitoring software, surveillance video, receipts and other material from Bombshells at 12810 Gulf Freeway and Studio 80 at 803 E. NASA Parkway. 

Bombshells has a history of alcohol-related issues, including serving underage and drunken patrons, according to the district attorney's office.

Officials said whoever served Deleon could face charges, too.

The driver of the second pickup truck was charged with driving under the influence.

Neither of the truck drivers were severely injured and both are expected to be OK.

While authorities were investigating, a fourth vehicle drove through a police barricade and crashed into a patrol unit. No officers were injured and that driver was also evaluated for intoxication.

When KPRC2 asked Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg about Friday's case, she said her office wants to get to the source of the crime, and not treat the symptom.

"You can arrest drunks all day long for driving, but it's important to know if there are establishments that are illegally serving them who caused that to happen, " Ogg said. "Those institutions (need to) be held accountable."

"All restaurants and bars are well aware that their servers should not serve drunks, that they should ask for legal identification," she said.

Editor's note: A portion of this story was removed after prosecutors said Deleon was not drinking at either Bombshells or Studio 80.

 


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