A 9-year-old boy died on Aug. 1 outside Rockport in a single-vehicle crash due to the driver traveling at an unsafe speed, according to a news release from the Texas Highway Patrol.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to the crash after 5 p.m. on Loop 1781.
Through the preliminary investigation, troopers determined a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Gary Gill, 77, of Florida, was traveling west on Loop 1781 and failed to drive safely at a curve. The vehicle then left the roadway and flew over a culvert, the news release said.
The vehicle was airborne and then struck a power utility pole and fence before coming to a stop.
The driver and the 9-year-old passenger were not wearing seat belts, which caused the child to be ejected from the car.
Both Gill and the child were transported to Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital in Corpus Christi with critical injuries.
Just after 7 p.m., doctors pronounced the child dead.
The crash remains under investigation by troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Office in Refugio. Charges had not been filed against Gill as of Aug. 3, Texas Highway Patrol Sgt. Rob Mallory said in an email to the Caller-Times.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Felicity Guajardo covers breaking news and public safety. Contact her at felicity.guajardo@caller.com.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Child dies in crash near Rockport, Texas Highway Patrol says
Reporting by Felicity Guajardo, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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By Felicity Guajardo, Corpus Christi Caller Times | USA TODAY Network
