South Florida

South Dade Principal Hurt in Crash Breathing on His Own

A South Florida principal who was critically injured after being hit by an SUV on a baseball field last month is showing signs of improvement.

According to an update on a GoFundMe page set up for South Dade Senior High School principal Javier Perez, he's breathing on his own after several trial runs off the ventilator.

He will have several more surgeries as his recovery continues, according to the page.

Perez was coaching his son's little league baseball game at Tamiami Park on April 26 when police say 51-year-old Marilyn Aguilera drove her SUV onto the field, striking Perez and pinning him to a cement block.

He was taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center and has undergone multiple surgeries to save his life. Both of Perez' legs needed to be amputated.

Two others were also hurt in the crash.

According to a blood sample taken more than an hour after the crash, Aguilera's blood-alcohol level was .227, nearly three times the legal limit. The arrest report also states a large, open can of beer was found on the floorboard of the front passenger's seat.

Records show Aguilera was issued 14 tickets between 2007 and 2013, even being busted twice for driving with a suspended license.

She will be in court for her arraignment in several weeks and remains on house arrest with a GPS monitor.

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