DWI suspect bonds out, victim improves

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The young man accused of driving drunk and critically injuring a 2-year-old boy this weekend is out of jail for now, that could change after he goes before a judge Monday afternoon.

Mariano Salaz was able to post his $55,000 bond and get out of jail Sunday.

Salaz is scheduled to go before a judge Monday afternoon at which time the judge will decide if that bond will stay or if it should be increased.

Police say Salaz was driving with a breath alcohol of at least 0.16, twice the legal limit, early Saturday morning when he rear-ending a car on Coors and I-40. Salaz took off and hit another vehicle before driving southbound in the northbound lanes of traffic.

That’s when police pulled him over, but not before Salaz backed up into a police cruiser.

Two-year-old Vincente was sitting in the back of the car rear-ended and suffered severe head trauma.

When officer spoke to 20-year-old Salaz, he admitted to drinking two forties.

The young boy Salaz hit is currently listed in critical condition at UNM Hospital but his father says he’s improving. Little Vicente is breathing on his own and the bleeding in his brain has stopped but for now he remains sedated. Until he is fully awake officials will not know how severe his brain injury is.

Vicente’s father says doctors will decide sometime Monday whether Vicente is strong enough to have his breathing machine turned off.

Salaz is expected to appear in court Monday at 1:30 p.m. He was originally charged with vehicular homicide when police didn’t think his young victim would survive but that charge has been reduced to great bodily harm by vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident.