Cicero Mom Charged With Driving Drunk, Leaving 6-Year-Old Son In Sinking SUV In Aurora Pond: Cops

AURORA, IL — A six-year-old Cicero boy remains in critical condition in a medically induced coma after his mom allegedly drove intoxicated without a license, crashed her car into an Aurora retention pond, and left him inside the SUV as it sank. Gladys Ruvira-Garcia, 31, of the 5600 block of W. 22nd Pl. in Cicero, was charged with three felony counts of aggravated DUI and "several traffic offenses" that included driving without a license. Her blood alcohol content was measured at .14 after the crash.

The accident took place on Sunday Oct. 15 after Ruvira-Garcia, her six-year-old son 21-year-old sister, and two teens left a party in Aurora, police say. Ruvira-Garcia told police she lost control of the vehicle near I-88 and Diehl Road. The vehicle then spun out and plunged into a retention pond.

Ruvira-Garcia and her other passengers escaped the vehicle unharmed, but her son was allegedly left inside as the vehicle became submerged.

Emergency crews arrived on the scene and divers were able to locate the SUV and the boy beneath 15 feet of water some 80 feet from the pond's shore. He was rushed to a local hospital and is still in critical condition according to the most recent update.

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said the following of Ruvira-Garcia's charges, "Like all alleged DUI cases, the situation Ms. Ruvira-Garcia finds herself in today was 100% avoidable. As I have said numerous times in the past, if you have been drinking, do not drive.

It is a very simple concept but unfortunately, far too many times, people fail to heed this advice and tragedy follows, as is alleged in this case. I would like to thank the Aurora Police Department as well as the Aurora Fire Department Dive Team for their heroic efforts in rescuing the young boy from the submerged vehicle. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Jim French for his efforts in securing a strong prosecution against this defendant.”

>>Related: 6-Year-Old Hospitalized After Mom Drives Into Retention Pond In Aurora

Ruvira-Garcia will next appear in court on October 30. She is currently being held at DuPage County Jail on $500,000 bond.

Image via DuPage County State's Attorney's Office