SAPD: Driver involved in police chase, later killed in crash ID'd

Santos Martinez, 22, identified as driver

SAN ANTONIOUPDATE: 

The San Antonio Police Department has released the identity of the driver who was involved in a chase with police and later killed in a crash Monday morning.

Officials released the driver's identity as 22-year-old Santos Martinez.

No other information was provided by SAPD.

PREVIOUS REPORT:

San Antonio police say a driver who was killed in a crash in the Medical Center Monday morning had been involved in an earlier chase with officers.

According to a preliminary report, police had tried to stop a 2019 red Honda Accord but the driver kept going.

An officer briefly pursued the car but lost sight of it, the report said.

READ MORE: BCSO: Driver hospitalized after rolling vehicle during chase with deputies

Police said that at some point “well after” the chase was called off, the same car became involved in a crash around 5 a.m., which resulted in the death of that driver. 

Witnesses reportedly told police they saw him driving “erratically” moments before his car collided with a Penske truck at the intersection of Medical Drive and Babcock Road.

“He was going westbound on Medical Drive and he attempted to run the red light,” said Sgt. Steven Bratina, with SAPD. “There's no estimate at this time on how fast that little car was going, but he was obviously speeding.”

The Honda became wedged beneath the large truck.

The force of the impact sent the truck spinning about 180 degrees, dragging the car with it.

Police said several people stopped and attempted to help the driver, although they were not able to do much.

San Antonio firefighters had to lift the truck off the car, then cut through metal to reach the man, who was in his 30s.

The crash happened not far from a hospital emergency room.

Still, there was no saving the man.

“The driver probably died instantly,” Bratina said.

For hours afterward, accident investigators remained at the scene, piecing together what happened.

Part of the busy intersection was closed throughout the morning commute, leading to delays and detours for drivers.


About the Authors:

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.