Details of High Speed Chase Fatality Emerge

The Tom Green County Sheriff’s office issued a press release about the high speed chase that claimed the life of Gerod Vincent Rockwell, 31, of Bronte yesterday.

According to the sheriff’s office a deputy attempted to pull the 2001 Buick LeSabre over for a minor traffic offense at Baker Dr. and FM 388. The driver, Rockwell, refused to stop and evaded arrest at a high rate of speed.

Deputies followed the vehicle with lights and sirens activated, as the chase reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Rockwell lost control of his vehicle at the intersection of FM 388 and FM 1692 causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and overturn multiple times.

Deputies immediately checked on the driver and passenger. The driver, Rockwell, was ejected from the vehicle while the passenger, Rudolfo Santellano, 29, was partially outside the vehicle. A fire had started in the engine compartment of the vehicle at that time, which deputies quickly extinguished.  

The Santellano was airlifted to Shannon Medical Center via Shannon Medivac. There Santellano was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.

Gerod Vincent Rockwell was pronounced deceased on the scene by Justice of the Peace Fred Buck.

The crash investigation is being conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers.