State liquor agency investigating bar where Valdez woman killed by accused drunken driver

The state is mounting an investigation into possible alcohol violations at the Valdez bar where a 32-year-old mother of four was killed on the sidewalk early Sunday by a man later arrested for drunken driving.

Witnesses told police that 46-year-old Ero Victor Walli's pickup struck Chellsie Hoffman outside the Board Room bar and then, as she screamed, the vehicle ran her over and stopped on top of her before speeding away, court documents say. Hoffman was at the bar with friends.

The Valdez Police Department is cooperating with the Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office investigation, according to city clerk Sheri Pierce. The office is the state's lead enforcement agency for liquor establishments.

Police are providing evidence and interviews related to the incident, Pierce said.

Valdez police are already investigating the criminal aspect of the incident, which resulted in manslaughter, drunk driving and other charges.

The state Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office is separately looking into whether any alcohol-related violations occurred, officials there say.

"We have initiated an investigation as well, but the VPD investigation is primary at this time due to the nature of the incident," AMCO director Erika McConnell said in an email Tuesday afternoon.

The agency has issued no violations to the Board Room in the past five years, McConnell said.

State law prohibits serving a drunk person and also prohibits allowing them to remain on premises. Violations are misdemeanors.

A man outside the Board Room on Sunday morning told police he tried to convince Walli not to drive because Walli was so intoxicated, charging documents say. Witnesses said Walli got into his pickup and "peeled out" of the parking lot before he hit Hoffman.

Board Room co-owner James Williams on Tuesday declined to confirm whether Walli was served at the bar.

Williams said he is "crushed" about what happened.

Williams said the bar, also owned by Connie Ballow, is cooperating fully with local authorities in the investigation.

"Connie and I, we're devastated by this," he said. "It's really hard."

He asked to read a statement: "It is with extreme sadness that we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of all affected by this tragedy. Our top priority is the care and needs of the families involved as well as our staff, while respecting the privacy of the families."

A GoFundMe account for Hoffman's husband and the couple's four children — ages 3 to 9 — was already halfway to a $10,000 goal Tuesday just 15 hours after it was created.

A family member also created a donation account at Wells Fargo for Kyle Hoffman "to help him and the kids in this difficult time," according to a Facebook post forwarded by a relative.