Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Holly Hill
Topics: Food and Drink, Health
Joe Yates
The mom of a 30-year-old Oklahoma woman who tragically died two years after drinking a margarita laced with cleaning chemicals has blasted the restaurant which served her daughter the deathly cocktail.
Kelly Hunter, 54, says the owners of Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill ignored and avoided her daughter, Holly Hill, after serving her a contaminated drink that would eventually claim her life.
Holly, a third-grade teacher and mom-of-three, was out celebrating Valentine’s Day in 2023 when she took a single sip of what she thought was a regular margarita. Instead, it was filled with industrial-strength cleaning chemicals. Within seconds, she felt her mouth and throat burning.
Holly immediately started vomiting and sprinted to the bathroom to rinse her mouth out before being rushed to the ER. Doctors discovered that part of her esophagus had been burned away, leaving a hole that required over 30 medical procedures to repair.
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"She took one sip, and it changed everything," her mom told The Post.
Holly passed away on Thursday after ongoing complications from her injuries.
Holly's mom issued a strong message to the establishment: "At the very least, they need to make sure nothing like this happens to anyone else. But honestly? I’d like to see them run out of town. I don’t feel like they deserve to be here.
"She went from being a vivacious, healthy person to having complicated daily medical issues," Hunter said. "She used to never miss a sick day, and suddenly she had to carry a med bag and puke bags everywhere we went."
Following the news, Hacienda Las Margaritas posted a statement on Facebook saying everyone was 'deeply saddened' and that they would close for two days out of respect.
The restaurant also claimed that the employees involved had been fired and that new safety measures were in place.
The full statement read: "Everyone at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Holly Hill. Our thoughts and prayers remain with her family, friends, and the entire Elgin community during this time. Out of respect for Holly and her family, the restaurant was voluntarily closed on October 27 and 28.
"The incident that occurred at our restaurant in February 2023 was an unfortunate and isolated event. At that time, we took several steps to help prevent any recurrence. In consultation with the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission and the Oklahoma State Department of Health, we implemented new staff training and procedural safeguards that remain in effect.
"The individuals involved in that 2023 incident were terminated and have not been employed by or associated with Las Margaritas. The civil matter relating to that incident was resolved earlier this year.
"Las Margaritas continues to welcome our patrons with care, responsibility, and attention to their wellbeing," it concluded.
However, Hunter wasn’t buying it.
"That statement is full of s***," she said bluntly. "They can’t take it back, but they need to be held accountable."
Holly's constant hospital visits - around once every three weeks - cost around $80,000 per trip, leaving the family buried under medical bills. While they did reach a settlement after suing the restaurant, Hunter said it 'wasn’t enough' to cover the enormous costs.
"They did nothing. They avoided us completely," she said. "Never once did they offer to help with lost wages, gas, or anything. It’s cost us way more than it will ever cost them. My six-year-old grandson is growing up without a mom, and I had to watch my daughter die in front of me."
Police say the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is still looking into how the toxic chemicals ended up in the drink.
Donations can be made to Holly's fundraiser here.
LADBible Group has reached out to the restaurant for comment.