Milwaukee man facing felony homicide charge in crash that killed 74-year-old Franklin man

A Milwaukee man is facing a felony homicide charge after allegedly driving while intoxicated and causing a head-on crash in a Franklin construction zone that took the life of a 74-year-old Franklin man.

Leonel Molina Rios, 58, is facing one count of felony homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and one count of knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid license causing death, according to a criminal complaint filed Nov. 6 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

If convicted on both counts, Molina Rios could face up to 31 years in prison and $110,000 in fines. Additionally, for the felony homicide count, if convicted, the court could impose a five-year bifurcated sentence. A bifurcated sentence includes a term of confinement in prison followed by a term of extended supervision, according to Wisconsin state statutes.

Conviction on both counts could also revoke Molina Rios' vehicle operating privileges for up to 51⁄2 years.

According to the criminal complaint and Franklin police:

Franklin police were dispatched to South Lovers Lane Road and West Rawson Avenue at 6:40 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, for a vehicle crash.

Two damaged vehicles, a 2018 Ford Expedition and a 2020 Honda CRV, were found in the 7100 block of South Lovers Lane Road.

Molina Rios was driving the Expedition. The Franklin man was driving the Honda.

A man who told police he was a firefighter had stopped to help and was administering CPR to the Franklin man. The Franklin Fire Department arrived and provided medical treatment, but the 74-year-old was declared dead at the scene.

An autopsy revealed he died of blunt force injuries.

Molina Rios also received medical care and was taken to West Allis Memorial Hospital.

The location where the collision occurred is under construction with northbound traffic routed into one of the southbound lanes, creating two-way traffic in that stretch.

A preliminary investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit concluded the Expedition was traveling north when it crossed the center line and caused a head-on collision with the Honda.

Molina Rios spoke with police at the hospital and told officers he'd been drinking at the Irish Cottage since 3:30 p.m. that day ― two shots of whiskey and three Miller Lite beers.

Officers spoke with a bartender at the Irish Cottage who said a patron named "Leo" drank between four and six beers and two shots of "Jack." The bartender said Leo gave her a business card with the name "Leo Molina" and identifying him as a "Conquistador Radio Co-Host."

Molina Rios told police "he believed that he was impaired when he drove away from the Irish Cottage," recalling driving north on South Lovers Lane Road and that there was a collision near West Rawson Avenue.

Molina Rios said he didn't remember which vehicle collided with which, but just recalled being in a crash.

He also told police he used to have a Wisconsin driver's license but now he just had a Wisconsin ID.

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