DUI Suspected In Grove Crash

MIAMI (CBS4) - A high school student is in a coma, according to family members after he was injured while jogging in Coconut Grove Sunday.

Police said 18-year old Brian Beaubrun was jogging in the area of Virginia Street and West Trade Avenue around 12:30 a.m. when he was struck by a Jeep driven by 32-year-old Corina Gonzalez.

Beaubrun's grandmother, Edele Beaubrun, told CBS4, "He's in a coma, he has brain damage."

A family friend, Laverne Mueller, gave more detail.

"It's medication to keep him calm. To keep his blood pressure down. He is making some improvement," Mueller said. "Right now, we really don't know how damage there is to his brain. The next 24 hours will be critical."

According to police, after crossing the intersection Gonzalez veered off the road and crashed into a Toyota Corolla which was parked on a swale. The Jeep then bounced off the Corolla and struck Beaubrun who was thrown 160 feet from the force of the impact.

Monday afternoon, a makeshift memorial is all that remains at the scene.

"It was really unbelievable," said neighbor Renee Sherman. "It was an incredible sound that I won't forget; that of metal crashing. It was awful."

Sherman said she called 911 after hearing a terrific noise.

"And I looked out and it was really quite something what I saw, a person lying in the middle of the street," Sherman said.

Officers on the scene said they smelled alcohol on Gonzalez's breath, but she refused to take a field sobriety test. Police said Gonzalez claimed she was not drunk and that she had only had two glasses of wine.

For Sherman, she said the accident should serve as a reminder to anyone who is thinking about driving after having a drink.

"I think if anyone saw this, it's like a major lesson, reminder, or whatever, to if you've had a sip or anything of anything to (not) get behind the wheel," said Sherman.

Gonzalez was charged with DUI refusing to submit to testing and DUI with serious bodily injury.

Police traffic homicide Sgt. Luis Taborda and department spokesman Detective Willie Moreno originally reported that the teen was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died. On Monday, Moreno said that information was incorrect and that the teen is still alive.

Beaubrun is listed in critical condition, according to police.

CBS4's Peter D'Oench attempted to speak with the husband of Corina Gonzalez on Monday. The husband only offered a few words.

"You're a family guy," the husband said to D'Oench. "It's a very, very bad thing."