Injured trooper and deceased driver identified, original driver charged with DWI

Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne has identified both an injured state trooper and a driver who was killed when he hit the trooper’s patrol SUV. Meanwhile, the driver who started the entire sequence of events has been charged with Driving while Intoxicated. It happened shortly after 6:00 Tuesday morning on Interstate 10 in Chambers County when a state trooper stopped a suspected intoxicated driver who became uncooperative. A Chambers County deputy stopped to assist, and then another trooper, Travis Rocz, age 34, also stopped to help out. Before Rocz could exit his vehicle, it was hit from behind by 72-year-old William Townsley, of Alvin, who was driving a large commercial type van. Townsley was pronounced dead at the scene, while Trooper Rocz was flown by medical helicopter to a Houston hospital and at last word was reportedly doing very well. Meanwhile, the original driver, Baldemar Garza, 29, has now been charged with DWI and bond was set at$10,000.00 as he remains in the Chambers County Jail.