Mom's death stuns friends

Jessica Rodriguez, 28, and her 10-year-old daughter Kaylee Flores were fatally struck by a suspected drunken driver on the North Side interstate early Thursday. Courtesy photo. Jessica Rodriguez, 28, and her 10-year-old daughter Kaylee Flores were fatally struck by a suspected drunken driver on the North Side interstate early Thursday. Courtesy photo. Photo: COURTESY PHOTO Photo: COURTESY PHOTO Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Mom's death stuns friends 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

After more than a year spent grieving the loss of her father, things were finally turning around for young mother Jessica Rodriguez, her friends said.

Rodriguez and her 10-year-old daughter were killed early Thursday after the car they were in was struck by a drunken-driving suspect who had twice been convicted of driving while intoxicated.

Friends said Rodriguez had just finished working when her fiancé picked her up on Losoya Street to go home.

Rodriguez, 28, and daughter Kaylee Flores were in the car, waiting for the fiancé to fix a flat tire on the eastbound shoulder of Interstate 10 near West Avenue around 12:30 a.m., when a Jeep Cherokee plowed into them, according to police.

The impact pushed the stopped car 131 feet, police said, and Rodriguez, who served shots at The Basement Bar and Lounge part time, was pronounced dead at the scene. Kaylee was taken to University Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead around 2 a.m., officials said.

Rodriguez's fiancé was uninjured, but was consoled at the scene by police officers after witnessing the crash. Meanwhile, police drove the Jeep's driver, Christopher Hughes Lamar, 25, to a nearby parking lot, where he was given a field sobriety test and arrested.

Lamar is being held at Bexar County Jail on two counts of intoxication manslaughter. Bail was set at $150,000.

Rodriguez's boss, Jonathan Villanueva, said he and his employees were jarred by her death.

“We are in the alcohol and beverage industry, yet I overexaggerate and make sure that we do not overserve,” Villanueva said. “We make sure that cabs are called; our job is to make sure they get home safely to their family and friends ... and children.”

Although he didn't know Kaylee, Villanueva said he had known Rodriguez for years and had hired her several months ago. She had celebrated every birthday at the Basement since turning 21, Villanueva said, and had planned to continue the tradition Thursday, which was her birthday.

Family and friends gathered at The Basement instead Thursday night to remember Rod-riguez and raise money for her funeral.

“People are just in shock, we can't believe it,” Villanueva said.

More Information Arrangements Jessica Rodriguez and Kaylee Flores • Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South at 1700 S.E. Military Drive. • Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church at 747 S.W. 39th St.

By 7:45 p.m., several residents who did not know Rodriguez had stopped by The Basement to make donations after hearing the news of her death.

Isabel Donovan, who worked with Rodriguez at the Lone Star Café for five years before Rodriguez took a full-time job at Zuni Grill, said things were turning around for her friend.

“She had just gotten over burying her father and was starting to get stable,” she said. “She had this new boyfriend she was so excited about. ... She was moving on and going places. She was done grieving and deserved to be happy.”

According to Texas Department of Public Safety records, Lamar had been arrested twice before on DWI charges. In May 2006, one month after his 20th birthday, he was arrested in Guadalupe County on a DWI charge, a Class B misdemeanor. He was convicted of the crime and sentenced to 75 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Two years later, in February 2008, Lamar was booked into Brazos County Jail on a second DWI charge, this time a Class A misdemeanor. He was convicted again, records show, and sentenced to a $1,000 fine and three days in jail.

It was unclear how long Lamar had been in San Antonio, and his relatives could not be reached for comment.

Donovan said Rodriguez was “incredibly responsible” and would only have one drink when she went out or made sure that she had a designated driver when she knew she would be drinking more.

“She was always thinking about Kaylee,” she said. “She was such a good mother, and that's what pisses me off the most about this. If he would have been careful like she was, it wouldn't have happened.”

The decision to go ahead with the plans at The Basement was made almost immediately, said Roger Salinas, a manager there.

“I got a call from the owner at about 8 a.m., which is like the middle of the night for us,” he said. “He said we have to do this for Jessica, just like we did for her dad.”

Several friends interviewed Thursday evening said Rodriguez and her father, Raymond, were fixtures in downtown and considered family by those who work in the area.

Villanueva said several fundraisers have been scheduled for the weekend to help Rodriguez's family. Donations will be taken at The Basement's door Friday and Saturday nights, and a plate sale will be held Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at the Thirsty Camel at 5307 McCullough Ave.

emoravec@express-news.net

Twitter: @EvaRuth

Staff Writer Ana Ley contributed to this report.