An Austin woman has been taken into custody following a violent incident last month that left four people injured and one food truck ablaze. The Austin Police Department arrested 38-year-old Regina Rodela on November 7, charging her with two counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, all second-degree felonies. MySA reports Rodela's total bail is set at $225,000.
The events that led to Rodela's arrest began to unfold around 5:15 p.m. on October 22 at 2538 Elmont Drive in South Austin. Witnesses at the scene described to police officers how Rodela had appeared to intentionally drive her Toyota SUV into two individuals near a food truck and proceeded to pin one between her car and the vehicle before also striking another victim—a man who had earlier refused to sell his phone to her. This man suffered a broken tibia that necessitated surgical intervention, while another victim incurred a broken fibula, fractured vertebrae, and various abrasions. MSN details the affidavit describing Rodela's violent actions.
According to MySA, the Austin-Travis County EMS arrived at the scene to discover two of the adults needing hospitalization, with one facing serious, yet non-life-threatening injuries, while another two people were treated at the scene and released. The food truck, which Rodela had rammed, was engulfed in flames, sending heavy smoke into the already chaotic environment.
The situation escalated further when Rodela, after exiting her vehicle, was reported to brandish a knife and proceed to threaten another person at the food truck. "Rodela had reportedly become upset and used her car to strike two people at the food truck, pinning one between her car and the truck," stated the police. She is also alleged to have pulled out a knife and threatened a food truck patron with it. MySA provided this information based on the APD news release.
Investigations into the incident are continuing as APD pieces together the details that led up to Rodela's arrest. The motive behind her actions and potential connection to earlier reports of a stolen phone, which she made to the police, remain part of the ongoing case scrutinization. The affidavit, according to MSN, suggests that police believe Rodela deliberately targeted the victims with her vehicle, causing serious bodily injuries amidst the havoc.
