Posted on: Thursday, November 4, 2004
Hotel faces underage drinking complaints
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
WAILUKU, Maui — The Maui County Liquor Adjudication Board has filed 24 complaints against the Hyatt Regency Maui for allegedly providing liquor to two underage California men who were with Lauren Crossan just before the 18-year-old New Jersey cheerleader fell nine stories to her death Jan. 12.
A hearing will be held Tuesday on the complaints, which allege the hotel served or sold liquor to Eric B. Larson, 20, and Donald L. Devorss, 19, both of Folsom, Calif., and failed to properly check their identification. The legal drinking age in Hawai'i is 21.
The violations were said to have occurred between 12:26 p.m. Jan. 9 and 10:52 p.m. Jan. 11. A 25th count accuses the Hyatt of failing to have an on-duty employee in charge of "each liquor dispensing or consumption area at all times whenever there is sale, service or consumption of liquor" late Jan. 11.
Crossan's nude body was discovered the morning of Jan. 12 below the Lahaina Tower room registered to the California guests. County medical examiner Dr. Anthony Manoukian set the woman's death at between 1:30 and 3 a.m., and said her injuries were consistent with an accidental fall. Autopsy results indicated she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 percent, which is twice the legal threshold for drunken driving and the equivalent to being under the influence of eight or nine drinks, Manoukian said.
Larson and Devorss told police they had gone to sleep around 1:30 a.m. and didn't know what happened to Crossan until they were informed of her death later that day.
The Randolph High School senior arrived on Maui on Jan. 11 to join 450 other high school cheerleaders scheduled to perform at halftime during the Hula Bowl Maui college all-star football game in Wailuku.
The hotel is facing possible fines and suspension of its liquor license. Barry Lewin, Hyatt Regency Maui general manager, could not be reached yesterday to comment.
James Krueger, an attorney hired byCrossan's family, said his investigation determined that Crossan got alcohol from multiple sources in the Ka'anapali hotel and elsewhere in Lahaina, none of which she purchased herself. Krueger said the family was awaiting the outcome of Department of Liquor Control and insurance company investigations and the formal release of the police report.
Reach Timothy Hurley at (808) 244-4880 or thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com.
