Driver in high speed chase sentenced to 50 years for death of pedestrian

John Fitzgerald Page, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to first degree murder in the death of Guadalupe (Wally) Rodriguez of Buckholts during a high speed chase on March 15, 2015.

Page entered the guilty on Jan. 11, according to District Attorney Bill Torrey. Page was sentenced by Judge John Youngblood in a hearing Friday in 20th Judicial District Court.

Under the current Texas parole guidelines, Page will be required to serve a minimum of 25 years before becoming eligible – but not entitled to – parole, Torrey said.

When stopped by Caldwell officers investigating a domestic violence report May 15, 2015, Page fled, leading officers on a 38-mile, high-speed chase on U.S. Highway 36 through Cameron and into Buckholts. During the chase, speeds topped 100 miles per hour, according to officials.

Witnesses said the suspect lost control while swerving around slower traffic in Buckholts and the 2015 Toyota struck Rodriguez, who was walking along the highway toward his home.

The tragedy hit the small Buckholts community hard. The victim, Mr. Rodriguez, lost his wife Carolina in an auto-pedestrian accident near the same location almost four earlier. The loss was especially felt by local and county fire department and law enforcement personnel as Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez were the parents of Buckholts Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Rodriguez and Firefighter Johnny Rodriguez.