Liquor Store Owner Seeks Justice After Car Crashes Through Window
The owners of a Denver liquor store are seeking justice after their business sustained significant damage when a car crashed through their window near Federal and Speer boulevards. A restitution hearing is scheduled for September 6 to address the extensive losses.
Store owner Wang vividly recalls the terrifying moment: “All of a sudden, I just heard ‘boom.’” She described the experience as horrifying, explaining how she was pushed back into a corner as a large bottle flew over her head and landed on a shelf. The impact was so intense that the noise was heard by the owner of the nearby Adobo restaurant.
“I just heard a very large crashing sound. I could see a large amount of broken booze and glass, and Wang standing behind the counter, shaking and frozen,” said Adobo owner Blaine Baggao.
The man responsible for the crash crawled out of the car and tried to act as though he was simply another customer browsing the store. “I asked him, ‘What are you doing here?’ He said, ‘I was shopping.’ I said, ‘No, no, you were not shopping at all,’” Wang recounted.
A year after the incident, Wang’s business is still struggling to recover from the extensive damage, which totals hundreds of thousands of dollars. The 36-year-old suspect pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was sentenced to two years of probation and 60 days in jail.
Wang expressed the profound impact the event has had on her life and business: “That day I thought I should be killed, so right now, every day is an extra day for me.”
Addressing the legal outcome, authorities noted the challenges of taking the case to trial, particularly given witness testimonies that suggested others might have been driving the car. “As a result, we believe the plea agreement that was reached was the best possible outcome in the case. We continue to make every effort to maximize restitution for the liquor store’s owner. The restitution hearing has been continued by the Court to allow the victim more time to fully document her losses.”
