Boy eager to greet dad is hit by car at airport

Like most 6-year-olds, Zachary Drew doesn't sit still much. This past week, he'd been especially restless, abandoning all shyness and restraint as he constantly bounced up and down, eagerly counting the days until his father's return to Brooklyn Park after a 10-month deployment in Iraq.

Moments before what should have been a joyous reunion Friday night, Zachary, along with his mother, his 5-year-old sister and his 3- and 1-year-old brothers, joined hands and walked in a line across the short-term parking lot at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. At the end of the family chain was Zachary.

Suddenly, a car swiftly rounded the corner, striking the little boy and dragging him 15 feet before crashing into a concrete wall, his mother, Vanessa Drew, said Saturday.

"He didn't stop, brake or anything," she said of the driver.

As she rushed to her son, who lay screaming for help on the pavement, she saw the driver stumble out of his SUV with bloodshot eyes. Airport authorities said he smelled of alcohol.

Meanwhile, Zachary's father, Richard, stood in front of the airport with flowers and balloons, waiting to greet his family after his third deployment to Iraq with the Oklahoma National Guard. An airport police officer found him to break the news.

Now he'll finally get to spend much-anticipated time with his oldest son -- but by his hospital bed. Zachary's right leg and nose are broken, and some teeth are knocked out, Richard said. Late Saturday, he was in fair condition at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare hospital in St. Paul, a hospital spokeswoman said.

"It's supposed to be a joyful time to see your dad after he returns from fighting a war, and then this happens," said Zachary's grandfather, Joseph Drew, of Oklahoma.

"I didn't hear anything to say he's critical, but he's pretty torn up. Our prayers go out for him."

A mom's 'worst nightmare'

The driver of the car that hit Zachary, Tommy Rodriguez, 61, of St. Paul, was arrested on suspicion of criminal vehicular operation about 8 p.m. Friday and released, said Patrick Hogan, spokesman for the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Toxicology results are pending; prosecutors will decide later on possible charges.

Richard Drew and his wife, who also served in the National Guard until moving to Brooklyn Park to be closer to family members, were shaken and emotional. Fatigued, they waited Saturday night as Zachary underwent reconstructive surgeries on his face and leg.

"Living my worst nightmare," Vanessa posted to Facebook. Their other children don't understand what happened to Zachary, she said.

"It's just hard," she said. "I haven't slept. Just trying to keep it together."

Joseph Drew had been expecting Zachary and his family to arrive in Oklahoma by Monday to celebrate Christmas. Instead, the grandfather said he and his ex-wife will head to Minnesota this week for Christmas.

"We're going to load up his presents, as many as I can, and take them with me," he said.