BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. — A Moreau man, Justin P. Rodriguez, has been sentenced to a maximum term of 22 1/2 years in state prison for his involvement in the death of a tow truck driver in the town of Wilton in 2022. Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen’s office announced that Rodriguez, aged 42, received a sentence of 12 1/2 to 25 years for aggravated vehicular homicide and an additional 10-year consecutive sentence for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Due to Rodriguez’s four previous DWI convictions, he was sentenced as a second felony offender.
The incident occurred on September 15, 2022, along I-87 when Rodriguez, in a dangerously intoxicated state, crashed into a metal post and chain barricade near the Hoffman’s Car Wash after leaving an Applebee’s restaurant in the town of Wilton. Witnesses reported that Rodriguez was swerving and driving at a high speed, showing no regard for safety. He then collided with a disabled box truck, resulting in the death of the tow truck driver, Alex Bleickhardt.
Further investigation revealed that Rodriguez had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.26%, more than three times the legal limit, at the time of the crash. He also tested positive for cocaine and cannabis. It was also discovered that Rodriguez was in possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol, which was prohibited as he was a convicted felon.
After a three-week trial, a Saratoga County Jury convicted Rodriguez of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, leaving the scene without reporting property damage, and violation of the “Move Over Law.” Lesser included offenses were dismissed at sentencing.
In response to the verdict, District Attorney Heggen expressed satisfaction that justice had been served for Alex Bleickhardt and his family, acknowledging the profound consequences of Rodriguez’s choice to drive under the influence. Members of Bleickhardt’s family attended the sentencing, and his mother made a victim impact statement, emphasizing the loss her son’s death had caused.
The prosecution team from the District Attorney’s office was commended for their work, as was the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Troop G Collision Reconstruction Unit for their thorough investigation. The sentence is seen as a reminder of the severe and lasting consequences of intoxicated and reckless driving.
This case serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by drunk driving and the importance of personal responsibility when operating a vehicle. Driving under the influence can have devastating consequences, causing the loss of innocent lives and forever changing the lives of those affected by these tragic incidents.
