Los Gatos mom of 4 hit by drunk illegal

Suspect in Los Gatos crash had blood alcohol level twice the legal limit
By Connie SkipitaresMercury NewsSan Jose Mercury News
Article Launched:09/14/2007 06:21:50 PM PDT
The San Jose man charged with critically injuring a Los Gatos Little League mom while allegedly driving drunk last Sunday had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit when he slammed into her, crushing her legs and nearly killing her.
Lucio Rodriguez, 27, had a blood alcohol level of .16 when his blood was drawn about an hour and a half after the 5:30 p.m. crash at a parking lot next to Baggerly Field in Los Gatos, according to authorities.
Cole, 44, a mother of four, was taking one of her son's bikes out of the back of her SUV when Rodriguez's Chevy Blazer swerved off Blossom Hill Road and ran into her. He then took off.
Officers stopped him a short time later about four miles from the crash scene. Rodriguez was unable to stand on his own when officers asked him to get out of his car, according to a police report. They said he smelled strongly of alcohol, his eyes were glassy and he slurred his speech. They also said that prior to stopping him Rodriguez was weaving through traffic and driving erratically.
According to the police report, Rodriguez joined a friend between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. at a 76 gas station not far from the crash site and the two drank beers behind the station. The friend is an employee at the station. The friend told police that Rodriguez left the station about 5 p.m.
Rodriguez, who worked at the Lark Avenue Car Wash and at Una Mas restaurant in Los Gatos as a cook, called the eatery to say he was feeling sick and would not make it to work. He said he'd been drinking and was not physically able to go to work, the report said.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman said Friday that Rodriguez has been living in the U.S. illegally. Rodriguez had been convicted of drunken driving in March for an incident stemming back to January. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and ordered to pay about $1,600 in fines. The sentence is consistent with a first-time offense.
Saturday, Sara Cole is facing her fourth surgery of many on her critically injured left leg. Both of her legs were crushed when Rodriguez crashed into her and doctors say she still may lose her left leg. The crash occurred during a Little League game. Sara Cole's sons, their baseball buddies and parents rushed to help her as she collapsed.
Bill Cole, her ex-husband and spokesman for the family, said she is "in really good spirits" and is desperately fighting to regain use of her legs.