The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — A retired Dallas firefighter is in a coma and has taken a turn for the worse after an alleged drunk driver plowed into him and fled, a friend said Tuesday.
Cristian Hinojosa, an active fire lieutenant and president of the Dallas Hispanic Firefighters’ Association, said Charlie Contreras’ condition is “pretty touch and go” and is on life support. He said Contreras’ family has gathered at Baylor University Medical Center, Hinojosa said.
“It’s packed more for people preparing for the worst rather than just showing support,” said Hinojosa, who was at the hospital with them.
A witness told police Contreras was driving Sunday in Old East Dallas at the intersection of Graham Avenue and E. Grand Avenue when a Dodge Ram ran a red light and slammed into him.
Police say the driver, Juan Diaz Lizama, fled but was eventually caught. He denied drinking but failed a field sobriety test, police said. And he had four children in the backseat. Officers saw 10 empty Corona bottles in his pickup, but another adult in the car said she drank about half of them.
Diaz Lizama, 20, was living in the country illegally. He has been charged with intoxication assault and accident involving a serious bodily injury. He is being held in Dallas County jail in lieu of $400,000 bail.
Contreras suffered severe internal injuries. His passenger on the motorcycle also had a spine fracture, police said. But she was able to talk the day after the wreck, Hinojosa said.
Hinojosa said Contreras, who retired from the department in 2011, enjoyed riding his motorcycle in retirement.
Contreras has three adult children, Hinojosa said. His association has set up a YouCaring fundraising page for Contreras.
Hinojosa said Contreras always had a smile on his face and was “very friendly.”
“He’s just a talker. He’s got the gift of gab,” Hinojosa said. “He’s one of those guys where you show up somewhere, and if he’s the only guy you knew, you’d be happy to run into him so you’d have someone to talk to.”
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