Martin Rodriguez due back in court, set to plead guilty

MILWAUKEE --  A man accused of running over and killing a mother and her son is due back in court. 41-year-old Martin Rodriguez is accused of killing two people while driving drunk in the wrong lane on November 6th.

During his preliminary hearing Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to eight counts, including two charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

Witness Bryan Shepard told the court he was taking a cigarette break outside the bar where he works, when he saw a green truck. Police say the truck belongs to Rodriguez.

Shepard told the court the truck hit two pedestrians at about 9:00 p.m. on November 6th while crossing Greenfield Ave. 49-year-old Frances Pizzaro died that night, and her 20-year-old son Edward Lindsey died a few days later from his injuries in the hospital.
Police found Rodriguez shortly after the collision in the Milwaukee River and pulled him out. Rodriguez's blood alcohol level registered point .20. Rodriguez has three previous drunk driving convictions.
The detective says Rodriguez never admitted to running over the two victims, but did admit the truck belongs to him and he drank a lot.

The judge said he was satisfied that there was enough evidence to send the case to circuit court for trial.