Andrea Leeanne PayneAccording to Chattanooga police, an investigation into Andrea Payne, the woman indicted last week for the hit-and-run of a firefighter, has revealed that Payne had been drinking alcohol at Fanatics Sports Bar and Grill, her place of employment, the night of the incident.
Payne was charged with DUI, leaving the scene of a crash, vehicular assault, failure to render aid, and failure to maintain lane in the Feb. 1 accident that injured Chattanooga firefighter Lt. Larry O'Rear. O'Rear was helping to direct traffic at the scene of a crash on East Brainerd Road when he was struck by a red Mercedes-Benz. O'Rear was brought to Erlanger hospital, where he was said to be in stable condition. Payne was indicted by the Hamilton County Grand Jury Feb. 11.
The issue was brought up at Thursday's meeting of the Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board, which could potentially issue a violation to Fanatics under City Code Section 5-82, Article 14, which states that an employee consuming beer or any alcoholic beverage on the premises is grounds for revocation or suspension of that establishment's permit.
Fanatics Sports Bar and Grill declined to comment regarding the matter. Police said the matter is set to be heard at the Beer and Wrecker Board's March 5 meeting.
Contact Will Healey at whealey@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731.