By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó An Alabama woman who was airlifted to the hospital when the SUV she was a passenger in overturned was in fair condition on Sunday, hospital officials said.
Maria Elana Dominguez, 25, was ejected from a Ford Explorer after it overturned twice at the U.S. 29 ramp over the Interstate 85 bridge about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. She was in critical condition, but has been upgraded to fair condition. She remains at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.
The driver, Juan Antonio Rodriguez, 37, was taken by ambulance to Carolinas Medical Center NorthEast in Concord with three broken ribs and a collapsed lung, said Trooper K.G. Barringer.
Barringer said speed and alcohol were factors in the single-vehicle collision. Rodriguez was charged with driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, failure to wear seatbelt, no operatorís license and open container after consuming.
ěRodriguez was traveling N.C. 152 toward U.S. 29 and exited onto the ramp that takes you to the section of 29 back toward I-85 north,î Barringer said.
He lost control, struck the curb, rolled twice and the SUV came to rest on the passengerís side facing east, he said.
The driver was traveling an estimated 70 mph in a 45 mph zone.
Both Rodriguez and Dominguez are from Alabama and were in North Carolina visiting his sister.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.