Latest news with #DonJulio
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trial opens for woman charged in drunken crash that killed man walking back to work release
A trial opened Monday for a woman accused of drunkenly hitting and killing a man walking in the middle of Taft Street back to work release in January 2020 after his McDonald's shift. Christian Megan Garza, 30, is charged with several felonies. She pleaded not guilty. The victim, Andreas Ramos, 27, of Chicago, was still lying on her hood when Garza's father arrived minutes later to help. She claimed she hit a deer. In opening statements, Deputy Prosecutor Shannon Philips told jurors that Garza had been drinking 'Don Julio' tequila with 'Squirt' at a Jan. 18, 2020, birthday party in St. John. She loaded her 4-year-old daughter into a car seat in her red Volkswagen. On a cold and icy night, Garza decided to take an alternate route to avoid the curvy and twisty 93rd Avenue back to her parents' Crown Point home — where she also lived. She got into the turn lane about 1,000 feet before the light, before hitting Ramos just after midnight. The crash happened near 91st and Taft Street in Merrillville. There was 'no attempt' to break or swerve, Philips said. Defense lawyer Susan Severtson clarified it was Garza's toddler niece's party. Her parents went home first. She didn't see Ramos. Ramos was wearing a black jacket with 'fur' trim, which is why Garza could have believed the man was an animal, the defense lawyer said. Garza consented to a blood draw, which showed she was above the legal limit, court documents show. 'No one could have avoided this accident,' Severtson said. 'That was the cause, not any…intoxication.' Ramos was 'violating the rules of the road' by walking in the middle of the turn lane, Severtson said. Court documents show Sgt. Jeff Bunnell told Merrillville Detective Jeff Rice that Ramos was an inmate in the Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough Work Release Center. Men commonly seen walking in the middle turn lane on Taft Avenue in Merrillville – a busy street with long stretches without sidewalks – are typically returning from their jobs to work release while they serve their terms. Police estimated Garza drove 644 feet with Ramos still on her car, documents note. Officers also found an empty vodka bottle in her vehicle. On Monday, Lydia Ramos, the victim's mother, testified briefly. Armando Garza, the defendant's father, said the child's party started around 5:30 p.m. He admitted he had a couple beers, but said he was good to drive. He wasn't sure if his daughter was drinking before admitting he saw her with a red solo cup. He arrived home shortly before his daughter called. She pulled over in a former Ultra grocery store parking lot. It was immediately clear there was a man on her hood. 'It's not a deer you hit,' he said. 'It's a person.' She was 'shocked,' 'scared,' 'nervous' and 'crying.' The father called 911. When the dispatcher asked if she used drugs or alcohol that night, he said no. He told defense co-counsel Roy Dominguez that they were all traumatized – 'Nobody's seen anything like that.' Wouldn't it have made more sense to have his wife drive him, their daughter and granddaughter home, Philips later asked. I wasn't impaired, Armando replied. The woman is charged with seven felonies – two counts each of causing death when operating a motor vehicle with an ACE of .08 or more, causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangering a person less than 18 yrs old. She's also charged with neglect of a dependent and five misdemeanors. The case is before Judge Natalie Bokota with Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie also assigned. Ramos is survived by two children, according to his obituary. A judge approved a $92,000 payout from Garza's sister's homeowner's insurance policy in October. Ramos was sentenced to two years of work release in December 2019 in a robbery case. 'Without having sidewalks on Taft, it does make it challenging,' Lake County Community Corrections Executive Director Kellie Bittorf said Tuesday. The program oversees the Kimbrough work release center. They give inmates safety vests to wear at night if they have to walk back from work, she said. They give out Gary bus passes and 'strongly encourage' them to use it. But, sometimes the scheduling or bus stops don't line up. They have had a bus stop put right in front of the center and are currently working to buy bus passes in bulk, she said. If approved, they also let inmates drive or have family members take them to work. 'We do our best to avoid having them to walk, to provide those resources,' she said. The trial continues this week. mcolias@
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trial opens for woman charged with drunkenly killing man walking back to work release
A trial opened Monday for a woman accused of drunkenly hitting and killing a man walking in the middle of Taft Street back to work release in January 2020 after his McDonald's shift. Christian Megan Garza, 30, is charged with several felonies. She pleaded not guilty. The victim, Andreas Ramos, 27, of Chicago, was still lying on her hood when Garza's father arrived minutes later to help. She claimed she hit a deer. In opening statements, Deputy Prosecutor Shannon Philips told jurors that Garza had been drinking 'Don Julio' tequila with 'Squirt' at a Jan. 18, 2020, birthday party in St. John. She loaded her 4-year-old daughter into a car seat in her red Volkswagen. On a cold and icy night, Garza decided to take an alternate route to avoid the curvy and twisty 93rd Avenue back to her parents' Crown Point home — where she also lived. She got into the turn lane about 1,000 feet before the light, before hitting Ramos just after midnight. The crash happened near 91st and Taft Street in Merrillville. There was 'no attempt' to break or swerve, Philips said. Defense lawyer Susan Severtson clarified it was Garza's toddler niece's party. Her parents went home first. She didn't see Ramos. Ramos was wearing a black jacket with 'fur' trim, which is why Garza could have believed the man was an animal, the defense lawyer said. Garza consented to a blood draw, which showed she was above the legal limit, court documents show. 'No one could have avoided this accident,' Severtson said. 'That was the cause, not any…intoxication.' Ramos was 'violating the rules of the road' by walking in the middle of the turn lane, Severtson said. Court documents show Sgt. Jeff Bunnell told Merrillville Detective Jeff Rice that Ramos was an inmate in the Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough Work Release Center. Men commonly seen walking in the middle turn lane on Taft Avenue in Merrillville – a busy street with long stretches without sidewalks – are typically returning from their jobs to work release while they serve their terms. Police estimated Garza drove 644 feet with Ramos still on her car, documents note. Officers also found an empty vodka bottle in her vehicle. On Monday, Lydia Ramos, the victim's mother, testified briefly. Armando Garza, the defendant's father, said the child's party started around 5:30 p.m. He admitted he had a couple beers, but said he was good to drive. He wasn't sure if his daughter was drinking before admitting he saw her with a red solo cup. He arrived home shortly before his daughter called. She pulled over in a former Ultra grocery store parking lot. It was immediately clear there was a man on her hood. 'It's not a deer you hit,' he said. 'It's a person.' She was 'shocked,' 'scared,' 'nervous' and 'crying.' The father called 911. When the dispatcher asked if she used drugs or alcohol that night, he said no. He told defense co-counsel Roy Dominguez that they were all traumatized – 'Nobody's seen anything like that.' Wouldn't it have made more sense to have his wife drive him, their daughter and granddaughter home, Philips later asked. I wasn't impaired, Armando replied. The woman is charged with seven felonies – two counts each of causing death when operating a motor vehicle with an ACE of .08 or more, causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangering a person less than 18 yrs old. She's also charged with neglect of a dependent and five misdemeanors. The case is before Judge Natalie Bokota with Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie also assigned. Ramos is survived by two children, according to his obituary. A judge approved a $92,000 payout from Garza's sister's homeowner's insurance policy in October. Ramos was sentenced to two years of work release in December 2019 in a robbery case. The trial continues this week. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
5 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Trial opens for woman charged with drunkenly killing man walking back to work release
A trial opened Monday for a woman accused of drunkenly hitting and killing a man walking in the middle of Taft Street back to work release in January 2020 after his McDonald's shift. Christian Megan Garza, 30, is charged with several felonies. She pleaded not guilty. The victim, Andreas Ramos, 27, of Chicago, was still lying on her hood when Garza's father arrived minutes later to help. She claimed she hit a deer. In opening statements, Deputy Prosecutor Shannon Philips told jurors that Garza had been drinking 'Don Julio' tequila with 'Squirt' at a Jan. 18, 2020, birthday party in St. John. She loaded her 4-year-old daughter into a car seat in her red Volkswagen. On a cold and icy night, Garza decided to take an alternate route to avoid the curvy and twisty 93rd Avenue back to her parents' Crown Point home — where she also lived. She got into the turn lane about 1,000 feet before the light, before hitting Ramos just after midnight. The crash happened near 91st and Taft Street in Merrillville. There was 'no attempt' to break or swerve, Philips said. Defense lawyer Susan Severtson clarified it was Garza's toddler niece's party. Her parents went home first. She didn't see Ramos. Ramos was wearing a black jacket with 'fur' trim, which is why Garza could have believed the man was an animal, the defense lawyer said. Garza consented to a blood draw, which showed she was above the legal limit, court documents show. 'No one could have avoided this accident,' Severtson said. 'That was the cause, not any…intoxication.' Ramos was 'violating the rules of the road' by walking in the middle of the turn lane, Severtson said. Court documents show Sgt. Jeff Bunnell told Merrillville Detective Jeff Rice that Ramos was an inmate in the Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough Work Release Center. Men commonly seen walking in the middle turn lane on Taft Avenue in Merrillville – a busy street with long stretches without sidewalks – are typically returning from their jobs to work release while they serve their terms. Police estimated Garza drove 644 feet with Ramos still on her car, documents note. Officers also found an empty vodka bottle in her vehicle. On Monday, Lydia Ramos, the victim's mother, testified briefly. Armando Garza, the defendant's father, said the child's party started around 5:30 p.m. He admitted he had a couple beers, but said he was good to drive. He wasn't sure if his daughter was drinking before admitting he saw her with a red solo cup. He arrived home shortly before his daughter called. She pulled over in a former Ultra grocery store parking lot. It was immediately clear there was a man on her hood. 'It's not a deer you hit,' he said. 'It's a person.' She was 'shocked,' 'scared,' 'nervous' and 'crying.' The father called 911. When the dispatcher asked if she used drugs or alcohol that night, he said no. He told defense co-counsel Roy Dominguez that they were all traumatized – 'Nobody's seen anything like that.' Wouldn't it have made more sense to have his wife drive him, their daughter and granddaughter home, Philips later asked. I wasn't impaired, Armando replied. The woman is charged with seven felonies – two counts each of causing death when operating a motor vehicle with an ACE of .08 or more, causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangering a person less than 18 yrs old. She's also charged with neglect of a dependent and five misdemeanors. The case is before Judge Natalie Bokota with Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie also assigned. Ramos is survived by two children, according to his obituary. A judge approved a $92,000 payout from Garza's sister's homeowner's insurance policy in October. Ramos was sentenced to two years of work release in December 2019 in a robbery case. The trial continues this week.
Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A free Don Julio exhibition—with tequila tastings—is coming to Mercer Labs this week
In a margarita-loving town like New York, we'd never say no to free tequila, especially when said tequila is being served at a cool new exhibition hosted by one of the spirit's most popular brands. Tequila Don Julio is coming to Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology in New York City with a first-of-its-kind, free multi-sensory tasting experience from Thursday, June 12 to Sunday, June 15, celebrating the craft of Mexican spirit-making as well as the legacy of Don Julio González in high tech—and delicious—fashion. Marking the museum's first-ever brand takeover, Por Amor: An Immersive Tasting Experience will utilize the venue's 4D spatial sound system, LED-mirrored infinity rooms and volumetric light displays to chronicle how Don Julio tequila is made and enjoyed the world over. Guests will be guided through interactive rooms, each designed to unlock your senses: One features the rhythmic sounds of Mexica as well as the warm aromas of roasted agave and rich oak, while another lets attendees sip their way through several varieties of the spirit (Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino, Tequila Don Julio Reposado and Tequila Don Julio 1942) alongside immersive projections. You'll even get a chance to craft your own signature Tequila Don Julio cocktails using fresh ingredients and artisanal tools. 'Don Julio González devoted his life to crafting tequila of the highest quality,' said Karina Sánchez, Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Don Julio. 'This experience honors his unwavering spirit of innovation—a place where tradition and imagination converge, inviting guests to celebrate the extraordinary that can be achieved when passion fuels every step of the journey.'
Hypebeast
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Tequila Don Julio Unveils a Multi-Sensory Tasting Experience at Mercer Labs in NYC
Tequila Don Juliohas teamed up with New York City'sMercer Labs Museum of Art and Technologyto presentPor Amor: An Immersive Tasting Experience,which takes you on a journey through the Blue Weber agave harvesting process,the history and legacy of founder Don Julio González and more — using proprietary technology to reimagine how tequila is experienced and celebrated through art and technology. Mercer Labs is a cultural institution that bridges the gap between art and technology, and this is the museum's first-ever full brand takeover. Tequila Don Julio continues to honor its long-standing tradition of pushing boundaries through innovation with this first-of-its-kind experience, which invigorates the expressions and flavors of the spirit. As guests enter the four-day only installation, they will be met with the sounds, flavors and rhythms of Mexico, which will be personified through interactive rooms that tap into the five senses. Tequila Don Julio tells the story of its founder, as well as its aged expressions — Tequila Don Julio Reposado, Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino, and Tequila Don Julio 1942 — through 4D spatial sound, LED mirrored infinity rooms and volumetric light displays, fusing its passion for innovation with Mercer Labs' capacity for boundless creativity. As visitors are enveloped by the sounds of Mexico and the rich scent of roasted agave and oak, they will also have the chance to craft and sip on their own signature Tequila Don Julio cocktails using fresh ingredients and artisanal tools. Mexico is the home of Don Julio, so the brand wanted this project to encapsulate the magic of the region and connect visitors to Mexico in a deeper way. 'Don Julio González devoted his life to crafting tequila of the highest quality,' said Karina Sánchez, Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Don Julio. 'This experience honors his unwavering spirit of innovation—a place where tradition and imagination converge, inviting guests to celebrate the extraordinary that can be achieved when passion fuels every step of the journey.' The experience will take place from June 12-15, and complimentary tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis
