St. Paul native Tommy Rodriguez was drunk when he ran over a 6 year old boy waiting to greet his father who was returning home from serving in Iraq.
6 year old Zachary Drew was walking holding hands with his mother and three siblings when Rodriquez ran him over with his SUV dragging him several feet. Zachary rolled out from underneath the SUV which did not stop until it hit a concrete wall.
The boy suffered a broken nose, teeth, jaw and leg and needed surgery to repair his broken bones. His father, Sgt. Richard Drew, was returning from his third tour of duty in Iraq.
Mr. Rodriguez admitted to police that he had drunk four glasses of wine just an hour before the crash on December 17, 2011. He has now been charged with third degree driving while impaired. Mr. Rodriguez has a prior DUI conviction in 2004 in Dakota County. He also told police he saw the family crossing the road and did nothing to slow down or avoid a collision.
The family has established a fund for donations: “Benefit for Zachery Drew” Fund, Wings Financial Credit Union, 14985 Glazier Ave., Suite 100, Apple Valley, MN 55124.
