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RIVERTON — An off-duty police officer who initially claimed his passenger was driving when their car crashed, killing a woman whom he had been "lovey dovey" with just moments earlier, is now accused of causing the fatal incident.
Samuel Andrew Rockwell, 26, of Herriman, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony; obstructing justice, a third-degree felony; reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor; not having auto insurance and having an open container in a vehicle, both class C misdemeanors; and speeding too fast for conditions, an infraction.
Layton police stated on Wednesday that Rockwell was already on suspension at the time of the accident for performance issues unrelated to the crash and in the process of being fired when the accident occurred. Rockwell joined the Layton Police Department in late 2018 and began working as a full-time officer in 2019. In 2020, he was named officer of the month by the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum for pulling a woman out of a burning house.
Riverton police responded to a crash about 4 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2021, near 13400 S. Bangerter Highway. A 23-year-old woman in the backseat was killed. A driver and front-seat passenger were both able to get out of the 2020 Kia Stinger with minor injuries before emergency crews arrived.
But when questioned, both Rockwell and the second man "pointed to each other as the driver of the vehicle," according to charging documents.
Investigators determined the Kia was going about 116 mph when it veered into other lanes, hit the concrete barrier, flipped over the barrier, slid across several more lanes, hit a signpost, a traffic light pole, a fence and a raised concrete platform before coming to rest in a field, the charges state.
Initially, the passenger, who was the registered owner of the vehicle, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, prompting him to tell police he "can't believe Sam is making me take the fall for this," according to the charges.
But by 11 p.m. on Sept. 4, Rockwell went to the Riverton Police Department, asked to speak with officers, and told them "that he was in fact the driver of the vehicle," the charges state. Rockwell said the woman in the backseat "was being 'lovey dovey' with him and pulled his face towards hers and he drifted into the center median" and then lost control of the car after hitting the median, the charges state.
When asked why he was making the confession, Rockwell stated "it was because of integrity and it wasn't right to have (the other man) sit in jail," according to the charges.
Forensic testing later confirmed Rockwell was the driver. Police also determined his blood alcohol level that morning was 0.17%, more than three times the legal limit, the charges state.
