Clerk Accused of Selling Alcohol to Teen Before Fatal Crash

Investigators said Ivan Torres, 17, bought malt liquor during lunch break

Investigators with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission arrested a man they believe sold alcohol to a 17-year-old involved in a deadly crash.

Major Charlie Cloud with TABC said investigators believe Ivan Torres, a Trimble Tech High School student, was intoxicated when he crashed his truck last Friday along Mitchell Boulevard in Fort Worth.

Both Torres and 15-year-old Jeanette Lopez, who was riding with him, were killed in the wreck.

Investigators said Torres left school on Friday during his lunch break to go buy malt liquor from the T. Market convenience store at 1701 S. Riverside Dr. in Fort Worth. Investigators said Torres went back to the same store after school to buy additional alcohol.

TABC set up a sting operation at the store Tuesday night and arrested the man they believe sold Torres the alcohol.

Cloud said TABC could pull the owner’s permit for selling alcohol to a minor and potentially shut down the store.

Investigators do not believe Lopez had been drinking.

Clint Bond, a spokesman for the Fort Worth Independent School District, said the district does not have any plans to change Trimble Tech’s off-campus lunch policy regarding juniors and seniors.

“We would have to have all the evidence in hand before we review anything. Since the investigations aren’t complete, I believe it’s premature at this point,” Bond said.

Lopez’s family is expected to hold a press conference at 3 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the crash.

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