Festival-goers flee the Shores of Erie International Wine Festival during an intense storm, September 5, 2014. (Photo by Kevin Black)Festival-goers flee the Shores of Erie International Wine Festival during an intense storm, September 5, 2014. (Photo by Kevin Black)
Chatham

UPDATE: Festival Faces Charges After Death

Several members of the Shores of Erie Wine Festival and Sobeys Amherstburg are facing charges after a fatal car accident.

Amherstburg police have determined alcohol was a contributing factor in the death of 18-year-old Emily Bernauer of LaSalle on September 6, 2014.

Constable Shawn McCurdy says 11 charges have been laid against officials with the Shores of Erie Wine Fesrival and Sobeys Amherstburg. "The charges are permitting a person under 19 years of age to have liquor and fail to check ID (for) a person under 19 years of age," says McCurdy.

McCurdy says the victim was working at the Sobeys booth at the wine festival before the accident. The postmortem toxicology report showed alcohol and marijuana in the victim's system. Police say in addition to alcohol, texting while driving was also a contributing factor in the crash.

He didn't say whether or not police will be treating this year's Shores of Erie Wine Festival differently given what happened. "We always do our best to monitor the situation at the wine festival, however it's the Erie Shore's responsibility to make sure their liquor license is in place and they follow the rules and regulations of that," says McCurdy.

Police say those who have been accused will appear in court on Monday, March 9.

Photo of Emily Bernauer (via Facebook) via Facebook

Emily Bernauer (Photo courtesy Paciocco & Mellow Injury Lawyers) Emily Bernauer (Photo courtesy Paciocco & Mellow Injury Lawyers)

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