Bay Area briefs

A four-foot alligator was reportedly captured north of the Antioch Bridge in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta this morning, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game said today.

The reptile was spotted at around 10 a.m. in delta waters between Antioch and Rio Vista, department spokesman Kyle Orr said.

An unidentified tipster told officials the alligator was seen on an embankment near state Highway 160, north of the Antioch Bridge.

The California Highway Patrol, Rio Vista firefighters and the California Department of Transportation helped the California Department of Fish and Game recover the alligator, Orr said.

Vehicle and brush

fire closes lane of 280

A car fire that has set a hillside ablaze in Los Altos Hills this afternoon has prompted a Sig-alert for southbound Interstate Highway 280 just north of El Monte Road.

The Santa Clara County Fire Department has responded to the fire and crews have blocked off the No 4 lane, according to California Highway Patrol Officer A. Paulson.

Traffic is reportedly backing up to Page Mill Road and there is no estimated time when the lane will be reopened, Paulson said.

Toddler OK after

accidentally drinking margarita at Applebee’s

ANTIOCH — Kim Mayorga was confused when her 2-year-old started making funny faces and pushing away the apple juice he had ordered at Applebee’s. The explanation came when she opened the lid of the sippy cup and was hit by the smell of tequila and Triple Sec.

The restaurant staff accidentally gave Julian Mayorga a margarita Monday. He grew drowsy and started vomiting a few hours later and was rushed to the hospital.

"I wasn’t going to make a big deal about it,” the mother told the Contra Costa Times on Thursday, "but then he got sick.”

The apple juice and margarita mix were stored in identical plastic bottles, and the manager mistakenly grabbed the margarita container to pour the boy’s drink, said Randy Tei, vice president for Apple Bay East Inc., which owns the franchise restaurant and nine other Applebee’s in the San Francisco Bay area.

The Mayorgas will be reimbursed for their medical bills, and Tei said the franchise group’s restaurants will no longer serve apple juice and margaritas in similar containers.

"We absolutely believe it was an honest mistake,” Tei said.

Applebee’s International Inc. spokeswoman Laura Tigges would not discuss the incident Friday when The Associated Press called her for comment. The Overland Park, Kan.-based company is the world’s largest casual dining restaurant concept, with more than 1,900 restaurants.

The serving appeared to have been accidental, Antioch police Lt. Pat Welch said. Mayorga said her son is now doing fine.

She said the company has been very apologetic and offered free meals, but she added, "If they think I’m going back there, they’re ridiculous.”

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Information from: Contra Costa Times