Man accused of selling alcohol to minors before fatal crash faces trial

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A mother's grief was on display at the Fresno County Courthouse Thursday, almost three years to the day after she lost her daughter in a car accident.

“Lily was 15,” Dalia Martinez said. “She had her whole life ahead of her.”

Lilyana Romero was a passenger – one of seven teenagers – crammed into a small car in September 2021.

“She was just with her friends and ended up never coming home that night,” Martinez said.

The car went over the sidewalk and crashed near Hoover High School. Lilyana died at the scene of the accident just a few days before her birthday.

According to police, the teen driving was under the influence of alcohol and obtained alcohol from University Deli Liquor near Barstow and Cedar Avenue.

Martinez says it never should have happened.

“It comes back to the clerk,” Martinez said. “Because he was selling alcohol to minors and he wasn’t even looking for it.”

Hassan Mian was the clerk that evening. He has been released from jail on bail and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of selling alcohol to minors and one count of furnishing alcohol causing injury.

Martinez expected the judge to sentence Mian to a diversion program on Thursday. But after an emotional plea from Martinez in court, the judge rejected the diversion and put the case on track for trial.

If convicted, Mian could face up to six months in prison.

“No amount of time in prison will bring her back,” Martinez said. “But any kind of accountability and responsibility that you can have, I’m happy to take on.”

The judge ordered Mian to return to court for a hearing on November 7. Martinez says she will continue to appear in court to be her daughter's voice.

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