Nationwide — Seth Garron Rokitka, a man from Tennessee convicted in a 2022 DUI hit-and-run that killed a college student, has been released from prison after serving just less than a year. A judge suspended his 10-year sentence and placed him on five-year parole.
Rokitka’s release followed a court review requested by his attorney, State Representative Kevin Horan. The request cited his good behavior while in custody, which the judge accepted. He was released immediately and allowed to return to Collierville, Tennessee.
According to WLBT, the case stems from a crash in the early hours of October 16, 2022, in Oxford, Mississippi. Authorities said a vehicle struck two Ole Miss students behind Oxford City Hall in a hit-and-run that left both critically injured.
One victim, 21-year-old Walker Fielder, later died at the hospital. The second victim, 20-year-old Blanche Williamson, survived after being airlifted to Regional One Hospital in Memphis for urgent treatment.
Investigators said tips helped identify Rokitka as the driver involved in the crash. He surrendered to authorities the day after the incident. He faced charges for DUI and for leaving the injured victims at the scene. His passenger, 18-year-old Tristan Holland of Collierville, was also charged as an accessory in the case.
Rokitka later pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and leaving the scene of the crash as part of a plea agreement. That deal resulted in a 10-year prison sentence, which was imposed less than a year before it was suspended.