A vehicle traveling at approximately 90 mph crashed through the brick wall of Dino's Lounge early yesterday morning, temporarily shuttering one of Las Vegas's most beloved dive bars and highlighting the city's ongoing struggles with impaired driving. The crash occurred around 6:30 a.m. on August 4 when four occupants barreled down South Las Vegas Boulevard before slamming into the establishment that has served the community since 1962.
According to 8 News Now, four people were reportedly inside the vehicle – two men in the back seats and two women up front. The driver and front passenger were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the two passengers in the back seats fled the scene on foot. Police suspect impairment was a factor in the crash, though the investigation remains ongoing.
A Close Call for Bar Staff
The timing of the crash likely prevented a tragedy for Dino's Lounge employees. Owner Kristin Bartolo, who has operated the bar for 30 years, said her lone bartender narrowly escaped serious injury or death. As reported by Fox 5 Vegas, "My bartender was in there alone he happened to be in the back getting beer if he would have been in the spot- he would have been dead he just had a baby two days ago, we are very lucky." The force of the impact was so powerful that it moved a slot machine across the bar.
When Bartolo received the call about the crash, her employee reported hearing occupants of the vehicle saying "We gotta get out of here, we gotta get out of here" before fleeing the scene. "Dino was my grandfather but I've had it for 30 years it's my whole life, its my family's life," Bartolo told reporters.
An Institution Under Repair
Dino's Lounge, which opened in 1962, is often called "The Last Neighborhood Bar in Las Vegas" and operates 24 hours a day. The establishment has become a community gathering place known for its karaoke nights and tight-knit atmosphere. City officials determined there was no structural damage to the building, allowing for a relatively quick repair timeline.
Bartolo estimates the bar will remain closed for about four to five days while crews assess and fix the damage. "Don't worry friends," reads a post on Dino's social media accounts, "We have already started to fix it all up like new."
Part of a Troubling Pattern
This incident adds to a growing list of high-speed impaired driving cases that have plagued Las Vegas in recent months. Just days before the Dino's crash, Roberto Olivas, 27, was charged with DUI and reckless driving after allegedly hitting a pedestrian in a bus shelter while traveling nearly 100 mph. As detailed by 8 News Now, Olivas was involved in a hit-and-run crash with a Maserati before fleeing and reaching speeds nearly three times the posted limit.
The victim in that case, Billy Blanchard, suffered severe injuries including a brain bleed, fractured jaw, torn lung, broken ribs, and fractured left leg. Earlier this year, Charlie Hernandez, 29, was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison for a deadly DUI crash on Las Vegas Boulevard that killed 38-year-old Luciano Chavez Y Chavez when his speeding Dodge Challenger split the victim's Hyundai Accent in two.
Legal Implications Pending
While no charges have been filed yet in the Dino's Lounge crash, legal experts note that DUI charges don't always happen immediately at the scene. According to Corena Law, DUI charges can be filed days or even weeks later, particularly when drivers are hospitalized or refuse breathalyzer tests that require blood work processing.
