Rochester Man Gets Probation For Serious Injury DUI Crash

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man has been sentenced to probation for seriously injuring another motorist while driving drunk and in the wrong direction on Highway 52.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol crash report, 27-year-old David Delos Santos Aparicio was driving an SUV south in the northbound lanes of Highway 52 when his vehicle collided with a northbound SUV. The collision occurred near the 6th Street Southwest interchange in Rochester on January 13 of last year.

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Other Driver Rushed to Hospital With Serious Injuries

According to the criminal complaint against Aparicio, the other driver, 62-year-old Diane Kay Jerome, was transported to to the hospital suffering from a lacerated liver, a brain bleed, several fractured ribs, along with multiple cuts and bruises.

photo by Andy Brownell

Admitted to drinking 8 or 9 Beers

The court document says a preliminary blood test measured Aparicio's blood-alcohol concentration at .247, and a later test of the blood sample measured his BAC at nearly three times the legal limit, at .223. The criminal complaint indicates Aparicio admitted consuming eight or nine beers before getting behind the wheel. When asked if he knew that he was driving in the wrong direction, the court document says Aparicio responded, "No, but I'm drunk."

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No Additional Jail Time

He was charged with two counts of felony criminal vehicular operation. Under a plea agreement, Aparicio admitted to one of the felony charges and has now been sentenced to four years on probation. He was also given a 99-day jail sentence, which equaled the amount of time he spent in custody following the crash.

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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross