An investigation into the death of Hawai'i playwright Lisa Matsumoto has been reopened by the Honolulu Liquor Commission.

Matsumoto had more than three times the legal limit of alcohol in her blood Dec. 14, 2007, when she drove the wrong way on H-1 Freeway and collided with another car. She was killed, and the other driver was seriously injured.

Investigators believe Matsumoto consumed about 16 drinks at Slammers Bar & Grill in Honolulu before the accident. State law prohibits a liquor licensee from serving alcohol to someone who is already drunk.

Investigators hadn't finished their initial work before hearing Slammers was closing. In August, a new bar opened under the same liquor license.

There was enough evidence to find Slammers guilty of overserving Matsumoto, said Jeff Smith, the commission's chief investigator.

"It would be safe to say they probably would have been issued a violation for overservice," he said. Using information provided by witnesses, investigators found Matsumoto went straight to Slammers from a play in Manoa.

"It appeared as though she consumed most of her drinks at Slammers," Smith said.

There was no evidence that she drank after leaving the bar. She left at about closing time, took a friend home, then crashed on the freeway, Smith said.

The investigation uses the TRACE, or Target Responsibility for Alcohol-Connected Emergencies, program. TRACE uses credit card receipts and witness statements to enable investigators to track back from a crash to where the drinking took place.

"We want to make sure that if there was a problem at the bar, to make sure they take steps to not give them so much alcohol," said Dewey Kim, the commission's administrator.

The motorist who survived the crash, Cassie Olaivar, remains in physical therapy as she continues to recover from her injuries. She supports reopening the case.

"It's pretty good they bring it up. At least I'll know the truth," Olaivar said.