No charges for Lancaster restaurant where children drank caustic liquid
An investigation found lye in a glass the children thought was filled with apple juice, but authorities said it was not placed there intentionally.
No charges will be filed in the case of two children who were sickened in March after drinking a caustic liquid instead of apple juice at a Lancaster County restaurant, police announced Friday.
An investigation by police and the state Department of Agriculture determined that lye was found in the cups used by the children at the Star Buffet & Grill in East Lampeter Township on March 3, but that it was not placed there intentionally, police stated in a release.
Richie Zaragoza, 10, and his half-sister, Ginaya Mercado, 4, were at a birthday celebration with family when they drank what they thought was apple juice. The children were both hospitalized with burns to their throats and mouths. They have since been released.
Richie Zaragoza continues to suffer from health problems as a result of the incident, LancasterOnline reported.
Samples of the lye, which was found in the restaurant, and the juice were taken to the Department of Agriculture for testing.
At the time, nearly two dozen property code violations were filed and the restaurant was temporarily closed.