Minute Maid Park booze vendor could lose a license Ballpark alcohol seller could lose a license

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The company that sells alcoholic beverages at Minute Maid Park could lose one of its state licenses at the stadium because of an incident last summer in which an allegedly drunken driver leaving an Astros game hit and killed a pedestrian.

Catering giant Aramark, which holds the ballpark’s concessions contract, faces an administrative hearing because of allegations that it sold or delivered alcohol to an intoxicated person, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Cancellation of the permit is the standard penalty for a case this severe, said TABC Capt. Rick Cruz. A date for the hearing has not been set.

The possible permit revocation does not mean that the ballpark suddenly will go dry. Aramark has two licenses and only one is in jeopardy, the TABC said. The agency did not say which permit — beer or liquor — is involved. The two permits cover different parts of the ballpark and different types of beverages, the agency said.

Aramark declined to comment.

TABC spokeswoman Carolyn Beck said in cases of cancellation another owner or operator may be allowed to get a permit for the same location. Should Aramark lose one of its licenses, another vendor might be able to step in and acquire a permit, she said.

An Astros representative could not be reached for comment.

Cruz said the TABC investigation began in February. He would not reveal details of the probe, but prosecutors and police said it arose from the death of a Texas Department of Transportation worker, David Hall Jr., who was struck while working on a downtown Houston street on Aug. 30. Hall was assisting a cleanup crew in the left lane in the 100 block of Travis when authorities say Ray John Wilson veered around a TxDOT truck blocking the left lane and hit him.

Wilson, an Aramark employee, continued for about a quarter of a mile before he was stopped by a police officer in an unmarked car, authorities said. Police arrested him on suspicion of DWI, as well as failure to stop and render aid. Prosecutors said Wilson failed a field sobriety test and tested over the legal limit for alcohol. He faces trial in August on intoxication manslaughter charges.

“We definitely have reason to believe that he was given free drinks,” said Houston Police Department Officer Don Egdorf .

Egdorf said Wilson told officers he had not been working and had had only two drinks at the ballpark, but investigators said they believe he consumed more. Egdorf said Wilson admitted he was coming from the Astros game. The fatal crash happened minutes after he left the ballpark.

Hall’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Wilson. Aramark has not been named a defendant, but proceedings have been halted pending the outcome of the criminal case.

Brian Rogers and Mike Glenn contributed to this report.

mike.tolson@chron.com