A Milwaukee County judge has sent a Franklin man to prison for a head-on, alcohol-related crash that killed a 74-year-old driver on Lovers Lane in November 2024. Leonel Molina Rios pleaded guilty to homicide by use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration and now faces a combination of prison time and extended supervision stemming from the Nov. 2 collision near Lovers Lane and Rawson Avenue.
Judge Hands Down Split Prison Sentence
Molina Rios, 60, entered his guilty plea in March. Last Friday, Milwaukee County Judge David Borowski ordered 12 years of initial confinement followed by six years of extended supervision, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee. Court records also show that one additional felony charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement and another count was dismissed "per operation of law."
How the Crash Unfolded
Investigators say the deadly collision happened around 6:40 p.m. on Nov. 2, 2024, when Molina Rios' vehicle crossed the centerline and slammed head-on into another SUV near Lovers Lane Road and Rawson Avenue. The other driver, a 74-year-old Franklin man, died at the scene. Molina Rios suffered minor injuries, was taken to a hospital, and later arrested, as reported by TMJ4.
Alcohol, Evidence and a Missing License
Prosecutors say Molina Rios admitted to investigators that he had two shots of whiskey and three beers before getting behind the wheel. Court filings also quote a bar employee who said she served him at least four beers and two shots. A blood sample was taken as evidence, and a Wisconsin Department of Transportation records check showed Molina Rios did not have a valid driver's license, a fact he acknowledged to investigators, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee.
What the Charge Covers
The offense, homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, is set out at Wis. Stat. § 940.09 and prosecuted as a felony. The statute allows tougher treatment for repeat offenders and lets prosecutors pursue multiple related counts in a single case. It also outlines a narrow affirmative defense and specific procedures for chemical testing and reporting, which helps explain why plea deals are common in these prosecutions, according to the text of Wisconsin Statutes.
Part of a Larger Wisconsin Road Toll
The Franklin crash is one of many fatal wrecks in Wisconsin tied to impaired driving. Statewide year-end figures show alcohol and drug use remain a disproportionate factor in traffic deaths. The broader patterns and trends appear in crash data and impaired-driving fact sheets from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, per WisDOT.
