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Fatal accidents
May 24, 2012
One dead in wreck on Texas 71
Texas Deparment of Public Safety officers are investigating a fatal crash on Texas 71 just west of Bee Cave.
The wreck was reported shortly after 3:30 p.m. and involved three cars. State troopers said one person has died. Further details have not been released.
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May 16, 2012
Child hit, killed by truck in Southeast Austin, police say
9:20 p.m. update Austin police say the driver of the vehicle will be charged with failure to stop and render aid.
9:03 p.m. update
A 4-year-old boy was killed tonight when he was hit by a truck in a Southeast Austin neighborhood, police said.
Police said they were called about 7:30 p.m. to a house in the 4400 block of Lendall Lane, which is off East William Cannon Drive east of Interstate 35, following reports of a crash involving a small child.
Police said the child had been outside with his family when he was hit, and his father witnessed the crash.
The driver, who police say had been driving east on the residential street, fled the scene, but witnesses helped police stop him nearby. He is being held for questioning. Police would not identify him.
Police are still investigating and said they would release no more information tonight.
Earlier: Austin police are investigating a fatal crash involving a child tonight in Southeast Austin.
Police said a truck hit a child on Lendall Lane, which is off East William Cannon Drive east of Interstate 35. The truck driver was stopped. Police said the child appeared to be between 2 and 4 years old.
More information as it becomes available.
Photo: Alberto Martinez / American-Statesman
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April 20, 2012
Pedestrian hit by car near West Gate Boulevard dies from injuries
FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT:
On Thursday, April 12, 2012, at 9:15 p.m., Austin Police officers responded to an auto/pedestrian crash at West Gate Boulevard and Windswept Cove.
A preliminary investigation shows that a tan Jeep SUV was traveling eastbound on Windswept Cove. A pedestrian was crossing West Gate Blvd. from east to west. The Jeep came to a stop at the intersection and then proceeded to turn northbound onto West Gate Blvd. and struck the pedestrian.
The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital. He was pronounced deceased on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, from complications brought on by injuries sustained in the crash.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-8212. This is Austin’s 23rd Traffic Fatality of 2012. At this time in 2011, there were 15 traffic fatalities.
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April 13, 2012
Woman struck in auto-ped crash dies from injuries
FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT:
On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at 9:09 p.m., Austin Police officers responded to an auto-pedestrian crash in the 2000 Block of West Stassney Lane.
A preliminary investigation shows that a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am was traveling eastbound in the outside lane and struck the pedestrian that was attempting to cross Stassney lane from the north to the south.
The pedestrian was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge Hospital. On Saturday, April 7, 2012, she died as a result of her injuries.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-8164. This is the 19th traffic fatality of 2012. At this time in 2011, there were 14 traffic fatalities.
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April 8, 2012
Man killed in hit-and-run in North Austin identified
UPDATE: The pedestrian killed has been identified as 18-year-old Javier Diaz.
EARLIER: A pedestrian was killed by a silver or white Honda late Saturday before the driver of the car drove off, Austin Police officials said Sunday.
The man was crossing northbound Research Boulevard, the U.S. 183 frontage road, near Lamar Boulevard, with two other people about 11:10 p.m., police said. The man, who officials have not identified pending the notification of his family, was the only one struck by the car and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Police are still looking for the Honda, but did not have any other description of it from witnesses.
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March 31, 2012
One dead after North Austin collision
Update: Police found no other passengers in the pickup truck that caught on fire after a collision this morning, Austin Police Cpl. Wut Tantaksinanukij said.
Police weren’t able to pull the driver from the burning vehicle, Tantaksinanukij. The driver of the other car, found unconscious, was rescued and is in stable condition, he said.
Update: One of the drivers involved in a collision this morning couldn’t be pulled from his car because it was fully engulfed in flames by the time authorities arrived on the scene, Austin Police Cpl. Wut Tantaksinanukij said.
The driver of a Ford pickup truck traveling eastbound on Steck Avenue collided in the intersection with a Chevrolet pickup traveling northbound on the MoPac frontage road around 6:45 a.m., Tantaksinanukij said.
Police rescued the unconscious Chevrolet driver, who was then transported to University Medical Center Brackenridge in stable condition, Tantaksinanukij said.
Officials still don’t know if anyone was riding in the Ford with the deceased driver because the truck is so badly damaged, he said.
Tantaksinanukij said the identity of the deceased wouldn’t likely be released until Monday or Tuesday.
Whether alcohol or another substance played a role in the accident is unknown, he said. The investigation is ongoing.
Earlier: At least one person died after a two-vehicle crash at MoPac and Steck Avenue this morning, according to the Austin Police Department.
It’s possible that multiple people died, Cpl. Wut Tantaksinanukij said.
More information to come.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents, Fatal wreck
March 25, 2012
Pedestrian hit, killed on I-35 Saturday night
A pedestrian trying to cross Interstate 35 Saturday night was hit by an 18-wheeler and killed, officials said.
Austin police officials did not have the name of the person Sunday morning who tried to cross the interstate around 10:56 Saturday night.
The accident shut down all northbound lanes of the interstate near the 9000 block, officials said. The highway is open again this morning.
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March 18, 2012
Motorcyclist killed in Saturday night wreck
A 21-year-old Austin man was killed when his motorcycle and a car collided Saturday shortly after 10 p.m., according to the Department of Public Safety.
DPS officials said the driver of car headed eastbound was making an unsafe left turn from Wells Branch Parkway just east of Interstate 35 and hit a motorcycle going westbound.
Eric Michael Dramberger Jr., the motorcycl driver, was pronounced dead on the scene; the driver of the car, Renee Tonia Harris, 20, also from Austin, was treated with non-serious injuries at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, DPS officials said.
It’s not clear is Harris will be charged with a crime.
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March 11, 2012
Driver ID'd in fatal North Austin vehicle wreck
UPDATE: The driver of the BMW has been identified as 26-year-old Brian Travis Healy.
UPDATE: Officers on routine patrol saw the BMW pass at a high rate of speed, Austin Police Department officials said. They pursued and moments later found that the driver had hit a tree.
One person, an unidentified man, was killed. It was not immediately clear whether others were in the vehicle, officials said.
Austin police Sgt. Keith Bazzle said there were no skid marks on the road.
EARLIER: Austin Police Department officials report at least one person has died in a single vehicle wreck in the 4600 block of Adelphi Lane.
The wreck happened just after 10 p.m., police officials said. It appears a black BMW failed to negogiate a turn and slammed into a tree on Adelphi, just south of Parmer Lane.
Additional details as they are available.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
March 5, 2012
Man hit by car, killed on North Lamar on Thursday night
Monday update: Police have identified the man killed in car collision Thursday as Ricky Darnell Perkins, 48.
Earlier: A man was hit by a car and killed on North Lamar Boulevard on Thursday night, according to a release by the Austin Police Department.
Around 7:10 p.m., officers responded to an auto-pedestrian crash on North Lamar near Kramer Lane, the release said.
According to the release, a preliminary investigation shows that a 2004 Blue Ford Expedition was traveling south on North Lamar and started making its way into the center turn lane to turn left into a parking lot, when the vehicle hit a pedestrian who was kneeling in the center lane next to his bicycle, which was lying on its side.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, the release said.
Anyone with information is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-4779. This is the 12th traffic fatality of 2012. At this time in 2011, there were 10 traffic fatalities.
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February 23, 2012
Pedestrian killed in fatal MoPac crash identified
A pedestrian killed while attempting to cross MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) near U.S. 183 Sunday night has been identified as 24-year-old Nathaniel Luke Newell, police said Thursday.
Newell was killed after he was struck by three cars while attempting to cross MoPac from east to west, police have said.
Two of the cars stopped and one did not, and a search continues for the third vehicle, police have said.
Police were called to the scene shortly before 8:30 p.m., and found Newell dead on the roadway.
A death notice for Newell today said he was from Cedar Park, and services were expected to be held Friday at Hill Country Bible Church Northwest.
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February 16, 2012
Fort Hood soldier dies from injuries in Florence wreck
A Fort Hood soldier died Wednesday from injuries sustained in a car accident in Florence on Feb. 4, according to a news release from Fort Hood.
Spc. Keandre Mosha Hall, 24, died at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, the release said. He was from Naperville, Ill. and entered active-duty service in September 2009 as a mechanic. and was deployed to Iraq from August 2010 to August 2011.
Hall received the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign service star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon and the Driver and Mechanic Badge, the release said.
Hall was one of several passengers in a Nissan whose driver crashed into a tree, according to DPS reports after the crash. Another passenger, Joshua Winn, was pronounced dead at the scene; the driver and another passenger were injured.
No additional information about the crash was available Thursday.
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February 14, 2012
Two children killed in Williamson County wreck
State troopers are investigating a car wreck that killed two children in Williamson County.
Authorities said Jisaia Bell, 1, and Jhi Bell, 4, were pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck that was reported just after 3 p.m. today at Texas 29 and Water Valley Road, six miles east of Georgetown.
The black 1993 Honda they were riding in was attempting to make a left turn into a mobile home subdivision when it was rear-ended by a four-door Jeep Grand Cherokee going east on Texas 29, State Trooper Robbie Barrera said.
The drivers of the two cars were taken to the hospital, she said.
Jisaia Bell had been in a car seat, and Jhi Bell had not, Barrera said. Neither speeding or alcohol are believed to be factors in the wreck, authorities said.
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February 12, 2012
Two die in Hays County wreck, another person injured
Two men died in a two-vehicle crash this morning on U.S. 290 about 3 miles east of Dripping Springs, officials said.
A third man is at University Medical Center Brackenridge in critical condition with internal injuries, Department of Public Safety officials said.
The wreck happened about 7:50 a.m. when 20-year-old Bobby Fisher’s car, heading westbound, crossed into the eastbound lanes and struck 64-year-old David Galle’s car near Canyonwood Drive in Hays County.
Fisher, from Bastrop, was pronounced dead on the scene.
David Galle and his brother, 61-year-old Burnie Galle, both of New Ulm, between Austin and Houston, were taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge where the elder Galle was pronounced dead and the younger one remains, DPS officials said.
The road was clear and dry and all three men were wearing seatbelts, DPS said.
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February 5, 2012
One killed, one injured in overnight wreck
The driver of a truck died after rolling over on Shoal Creek Boulevard in Central Austin early Sunday, Austin Police said.
Police said the wreck happened about 2:45 a.m. between Shoalmont Drive and RM 2222. The driver was pinned inside the vehicle and pronounced at the scene; a passenger was hospitalized at University Medical Center Brackenridge with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Police did not immediately release the driver or the passenger’s names.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
February 4, 2012
One dead, three injured after collision this morning
A U.S. solider stationed at Fort Hood was killed in a car accident in Williamson County early this morning, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Joshua Winn, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene after the four-door Nissan he was riding in drove off FM 970 at CR 252 and struck a tree at about 3:15 a.m., DPS operator Allen Muller said. Winn was not wearing his seatbelt, Muller said.
The driver and two other passengers, all of whom were wearing seatbelts, were injured, Muller said. The car’s driver, Killeen resident Ida Fuster, 26, was treated and released from Round Rock Hospital, Muller said.
Ashley Shelton, 28, also of Killeen, is at Round Rock Hospital in incapacitated condition with head and arm injuries, Muller said.
Houston resident and soldier Keandre Hall, 24, is in severe condition at the hospital with a broken neck, he said.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
January 28, 2012
Man, 23, dies in one-vehicle crash
A 23-year-old man died early today when his vehicle ran off U.S. 183 in Williamson County and overturned, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
A DPS official said Tom Andrew Vestal Jr. of College Station was northbound on 183 when his 2000 Jeep left the road south of Texas 138 near Andice just before 1 a.m. The vehicle struck a ditch and overturned, ejecting Vestal. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
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January 23, 2012
Leander man killed after Lockhart collision Friday
A Leander man died in Lockhart on Friday after his motorcycle collided with another vehicle, according to the Lockhart Police Department.
Andrew Martinez II, 21, sped past Caldwell County Sheriff’s deputies traveling in the opposite direction on U.S. 183 when he entered city limits, police said.
“He blew by them at about 100 miles per hour,” Police Chief Michael Lummus said.
The deputies pursued Martinez but he out-ran them, police said. He collided with a vehicle leaving the HEB parking lot on U.S 183 and Live Oak Street.
Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene, Lummus said. Authorities found two pounds of marijuana and steroids in his backpack.
The incident is under investigation, Lummus said.
Permalink | Categories: Collision, Fatal accidents
January 8, 2012
Man dies in Bastrop County wreck
A man died Saturday night after his vehicle hit a tree on the side of FM 535 in Bastrop County, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
Guverejildo Jaimes, 41, of Smithville, was driving westbound in his 2000 Chevrolet Suburban when his vehicle veered off the road, he overcorrected and struck a tree, a DPS official said. Jaimes was pronounced dead on the scene shortly after midnight.
Jaimes was the only person in his vehicle and was wearing his seat belt, officials said. It was unclear where on FM 535 the crash happened.
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December 23, 2011
Man killed, child injured in Southwest Austin crash
A 51-year-old man was killed and two others were injured in a Southwest Austin crash last night, a Texas Department of Public Safety official said.
Aurelio Moctezuma was pronounced dead at the scene, the official said. Six-year-old Jonathan Moctezuma was taken by StarFlight to Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas but has been released, officials said. The driver, Saul Moctezuma, 22, refused treatment for a back injury.
Saul Moctezuma was trying to make a left turn from FM 1826 near Texas 45 in a Mitsubishi Eclipse when it was struck by an oncoming 2004 Dodge Ram pickup about 5:40 p.m., an official said.
The driver of the pickup was not injured, the official said.
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December 18, 2011
Man, 27, killed in Killeen car crash
The 27-year-old driver of a white Cadillac died after he swerved to avoid hitting a dog in the street, lost control and struck a brick sign early Sunday, Killeen police said.
Witnesses told police that the Cadillac, which was found upside down in the grass in front of a church, was driving northbound on Florence Road near Rhonda Street in Killeen when a dog ran out into the street about 12:30 a.m. The driver of Cadillac, Gregory Robertson, lost control of the car that rolled over, into a brick sign for the Abundant Life Church of God, police said.
Robertson was airlifted to Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple in critical condition, police said. He died after succumbing to his injuries at 5:49 a.m., police said.
The accident is still being investigated and police have ordered an autopsy on Robertson’s body.
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December 17, 2011
Northbound Ed Bluestein reopened following traffic fatality
UPDATE:
Ed Bluestein has been reopened.
EARLIER:
Northbound Ed Bluestein Drive at Techni Center Drive has been shut down following a traffic fatality, according to the Austin Police Department.
Police advised that the road would remained closed for a few hours.
One pedestrian was hit and killed, police said. No further details are yet available.
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November 29, 2011
One killed in Sunday night crash in Bastrop County
One man was killed and another injured in a head-on crash Sunday night in Bastrop County, a Texas Department of Public Safety official said Tuesday.
Armando Martinez, 45, of Cedar Creek, was traveling east on Texas 21 near FM 535 about 6 p.m. when his 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe was struck head-on by a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado that was trying to pass in a no-passing zone, officials said.
Martinez was declared dead on the scene, while the driver of the Silverado, Richard Quesenberry, a 55-year-old from Dale, suffered multiple broken bones and was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, the official said.
There were no other injuries reported, the official said.
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November 20, 2011
Two dead in Bastrop County crash
UPDATE: Two people died and one was injured after the driver of a Chevrolet pickup headed south on FM 2336 fell asleep and struck a car head on about 9:15 this morning, Department of Public Safety officials said.
The driver of the pickup, 19-year-old John Lee of Cedar Creek, and the driver of the car, 50-year-old Laura Ashley of Bastrop, were both pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. A passenger in Lee’s truck, 18-year-old David Thompson of Bastrop, was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin, officials said. Hospital officials said Thompson is in fair condition tonight.
Alcohol is not believed to be factor in the crash, Public Safety officials said. All three were wearing seatbelts.
EARLIER: Two people died in a two-car crash today in Bastrop County, just north of Camp Swift, Department of Public Safety officials said.
The crash occurred about 9:30 a.m. today on FM 2336 near Holiday Drive. Publlic Safety officers and Bastrop County Sheriff’s deputies are still on scene investigating, officials said.
Officials said they are withholding names of the victims until family members have been notified.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents, Fatal wreck
November 18, 2011
Police identify worker killed along highway Thursday
Update, 3:23 p.m.: Roy was working with the Texas Department of Transportation through an Easter Seals Central Texas program that provides employment opportunities for adults with disabilities, Easter Seals spokeswoman Lindsay Mason said.
Mason said Roy had worked with Easter Seals since May 2010.
Easter Seals has a licensed counselor on staff who is working with other members of the litter crew Roy was working with when he was killed, Mason said.
Earlier: Police have identified the man who was killed Thursday while working on a crew contracted by the Texas Department of Transportation to collect trash along Interstate 35 in Round Rock.
Timothy Denerrio Roy, 50, of Austin was killed when a pickup hit him, police officials said today.
Roy was one of four who were picking up trash in the grassy area between the main lanes of I-35 and the northbound frontage road north of Old Settlers Boulevard, Hurt said. All of the workers were facing south in order to see traffic and were wearing orange safety vests, TXDOT spokesman John Hurt said Thursday.
Roy, who was bending over at the time, was hit by a pickup that left the road shortly before 11 a.m. The driver did not immediately stop but “traveled some distance” before he pulled over, Hurt said.
Roy was the worker closest to the road. There were warning signs in the area where the collision happened, Hurt said.
There was no “immediate indication” that drugs or alcohol were factors in the accident, which is under investigation, said Will Hampton, a spokesman for the Round Rock Police Department.
Note: This entry has been updated to reflect the full name of the victim.
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November 15, 2011
Man charged in wreck in which passenger died
A 20-year-old man was charged Monday in connection with a September crash that left a passenger in his car dead, according to an arrest affidavit.
Javier Aviles was not in custody Tuesday evening, but faces an intoxication manslaughter charge, a second-degree felony, that could land him in prison for up to 20 years if convicted.
About 11 p.m. on Sept. 18, Aviles was driving on Old Lockhart Road near Mustang Ridge when he lost control and drove onto a field on the side of the road, suffering major front-end damage, the affidavit said. Aviles and three of his passengers were taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, but a fourth passenger, 21-year-old Luciano Yair, died, the affidavit said.
Aviles later told a Department of Public Safety officer that he was driving too fast and had been drinking, the affidavit said. A blood test showed Aviles had a blood alcohol level of 0.13, the affidavit said. The legal limit is 0.08.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
November 3, 2011
Twin brothers die in Bastrop County crash
Twin brothers died after their van ran off the roadway into a concrete culvert Wednesday afternoon, the Department of Public Safety said.
Ronald Hentschel, 48, was driving southbound on Texas 95 just north of Elgin near the highway’s north intersection with Loop 109 when his van ran off the road about 4 p.m. Wednesday; he and his brother, Donald Hentschel were pronounced dead on scene about an hour later, the DPS said.
Both men lived in Giddings. Ronald was wearing a seatbelt, Donald was not, DPS said.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
November 2, 2011
53-year-old woman dies after crash on William Cannon
A 53-year-old woman died after a crash Tuesday afternoon on West William Cannon Drive near Brodie Lane in South Austin, police said today.
The woman, Debra McKee, was turning onto William Cannon from a private driveway at 2 p.m. as a Lexus SUV was traveling east and struck McKee’s car when she did not yield the right of way, according to a police news release.
McKee and her passenger were both taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where she died about 9 p.m.; police did not say what the passenger’s condition was. The driver and an infant passenger in the Lexus were not hurt, police said.
Neither alcohol nor speed is believed to be contributing factors in the crash, police said.
This was the year’s 46th traffic fatality in Austin, police said.
Update: This item was edited to give the correct age for Debra McKee.
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October 22, 2011
One killed after single-car collision in Blanco County
Updated Sunday at 4 p.m.: Officials said 17-year-old Adam Lefford died in a fatal accident Saturday.
Lefford, a high school student, was not wearing a seatbelt, Department of Public Safety officials said.
Earlier: A single-car collision in Blanco County this morning resulted in one fatality, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
A car hit a tree at about 5:45 a.m. at Rocky Road and County Road 109, according to DPS.
No further information is yet available.
CORRECTION: This blog post has been updated to reflect where the collision happened.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
October 18, 2011
Police ID man killed in motorcycle wreck
Austin police today released the identity of a motorcyclist who died after crashing into a grassy median Monday afternoon on MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) just north of Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway).
William Wilton Bennink, 64, was driving north in the left lane of Mopac about 3:30 p.m., police said. A witness told police Bennink, driving a 2007 Victory motorcycle, passed him at a normal speed and veered off the roadway for unknown reasons.
Bennink, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at University Medical Center Brackenridge.
This is the 45th traffic fatality of 2011. Anyone with additional information about this wreck can call Austin Police vehicular homicide detectives at 974-8266.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
October 17, 2011
Motorcyclist dies in wreck on Mopac
From Austin Police Department:
APD is on the scene of Traffic fatality #45 in the 2400 block of S. Mopac northbound. At 3:23 p. m. A 64 year old, white male motorcyclist was traveling northbound, failed to negotiate a curve and was ejected from the motorcycle into a field. He was transported to UMC Brackenridge where he was pronounced deceased. All northbound lanes of Mopac are open.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
September 27, 2011
3-year-old killed, two others injured in crash
5 p.m. Update: Deputies have identified a 3-year-old who died in a wreck today on U.S. 290 in Oak Hill as Mackwaun Benson. He was not in a child’s safety seat at the time of the crash, officials said.
Authorities said 27-year-old Kenneth Benson was driving west on U.S. 290 in a 2004 Chevrolet sedan when the vehicle veered into on-coming traffic. Benson over-corrected, causing the car to flip, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Benson was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge and 1-year-old Miami Martin was taken to Dell Children’s Medical Center. Both were treated and released today.
Mackwaun Benson died at the scene.
Earlier: A 3-year-old has been killed and two other people have been injured in a rollover crash on U.S. 290 in Oak Hill, officials say.
The one-vehicle crash, near Circle Drive, was reported about 12:40 p.m. An adult and an 18-month-old have been taken to University Medical Center and Dell Children’s Hospital, Austin-Travis County Emergency Services spokesman Warren Hassinger said.
Officials expect the highway to be closed for at least two hours while law enforcement authorities investigate.
He did not have any other immediate details.
NOTE: This blog has been changed to say one vehicle wreck and the correct age of the child.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
August 23, 2011
2 killed in wreck on MoPac Sunday ID'd
Update: The Austin Police Department has identified the two people killed in the accident as Clayton Seffens, 26 and Mary Elizabeth Herrera, 25.
Police are still investigating the accident.
10:45 p.m. update: All northbound and southbound lanes of MoPac are open.
8:15 p.m. update: Police say two men were killed and two children were hospitalized following a wreck on northbound MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) near Steck Avenue in North Austin.
All lanes of northbound MoPac have been closed since the 6 p.m. wreck, and only one southbound lane is open. Officials said the lanes would remain closed for another three to four hours. The highway is backed up an hour in each direction, officials said.
Police said they believe that a Chevy Trailblazer was traveling at a high rate of speed when it lost control, hit a guardrail and flipped over and landed in the median. The vehicle knocked over a light pole, police said.
Two children in the SUV were taken to Dell Children’s Medical Center with relatively minor injuries, said police Sgt. David Espinoza.
7:14 p.m. update: Police say that one lane of southbound MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) has been reopened. The other southbound lanes and all northbound lanes remain closed.
Earlier: Two people were killed and two children were injured in a traffic wreck this evening, and all lanes of both northbound and southbound MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) near Steck Avenue in North Austin have been shut down, police said.
A police dispatcher said the two people died at the scene, but did not know their age or gender. They were riding in the same car, police said, and no other vehicles were involved. The extent of the children’s injuries was not known, police said.
No other information was immediately available.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
August 14, 2011
Man dies after crash in Caldwell County
A 52-year-old man died early this morning after the Jeep he drove crashed in Caldwell County.
About 2:30 a.m., the man was driving a 2004 Jeep south on U.S. 183 near Schuelke Road, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Officials said the man, of Waelder, drove at an unsafe speed through a construction zone and then up an embankment twice before rolling back down to the roadway. The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.
The man was pronounced dead about 4:30 a.m., the official said.
His identity was not immediately released pending notification of relatives.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
July 26, 2011
Man killed in overnight crash near Texas 130
One man was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Pearce Lane near Texas 130 in eastern Travis County shortly before midnight, a Department of Public Safety official said today.
A preliminary investigation shows that a 1998 GMC pickup was turning left onto Ross Road when it was struck broadside by a 2004 Chevrolet pickup traveling in the same direction that crossed a double yellow line.
The driver of the GMC, whose identity has not been released, was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he was pronounced dead, the official said.
The Chevy driver, 28-year-old Abdon Lopez of Del Valle, was also taken to Brackenridge with minor injuries, the officials said.
Both men were wearing seatbelts, the official said, and charges have not been filed.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
July 13, 2011
Man who was struck, killed while changing tire identified
FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT:
On Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at 11:01 a.m., Austin Police Officers responded to an auto-pedestrian collision in the 100 block of East Slaughter Lane.
A preliminary investigation shows that a white 1996 white Toyota sedan was stalled in the center east bound lane in the 100 block E. Slaughter Lane. Bobby Kyle was standing at the rear of the vehicle preparing to change a flat tire when he was struck by a 1999 dark blue Chevy Tahoe. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Alcohol or speed is not believed to be factors in this crash. This case remains under investigation by APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-5520. This is the 34th fatality of 2011. At this time in 2010, there were 26 traffic fatalities.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
July 8, 2011
2 men killed in Killeen collision identified
FROM THE KILLEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Update: The driver of the white Chevy Tahoe has been identified as 50 year old Humberto Enriquez of Killeen.
The driver of the green Toyota 4Runner has been identified as 31 year old CW2 National Guardsman Howard J. Cook of San Antonio, the 36 year old female passenger of Converse, also in the National Guard, was treated for non life threatening injuries and released.
This crash continues to be investigated and information will be released as it becomes available.
Earlier: Officers responded to the 14,000 block of S. Hwy 195 at 1:31pm, Thursday, after receiving a 911 call about an crash with injuries. Upon their arrival they located a white Chevy Tahoe in the median and a green Toyota 4Runner on the west side of the southbound roadway. Witnesses told officers that the Chevy Tahoe, occupied by one male driver, was traveling northbound in the inside southbound lane when the vehicle collided with the Toyota 4Runner, occupied by a male driver and a female passenger.
The collision caused the Tahoe to overturn several times and landing in the median causing the grass in the median to catch fire; the driver was pinned inside the vehicle. The 4Runner overturned coming to a rest on the west side of the roadway and ejecting the driver. Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke pronounced the 31 year old driver of the 4Runner deceased at the scene of the crash at 2:10pm. He also pronounced the 50 year old driver of the Tahoe deceased at the crash at 2:15pm. The 36 year old female passenger was airlifted to Scott & White Memorial Hospital in serious condition.
The names of the deceased have been withheld pending notification of their next of kin.
This crash continues to be investigated and information will be released as it becomes available.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
June 13, 2011
Motorcyclist who died in weekend collision ID'd
Update: Randy Carter was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the passenger on his motorcycle was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge with serious injuries.
Update, 8:17 p.m.: Police have charged Ruben Flores, 30, with intoxication manslaughter in the death of a motorcyclist early Saturday morning. According to an arrest affidavit, Flores told police he had been drinking and smoking marijuana earlier that night. A witness identified Flores as the driver of an SUV that ran a red light before striking the 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Flores is being held at the Travis County Jail, with bail set at $35,000, according to jail records. A woman also riding on the motorcycle suffered a broken arm and a contusion to her head, according to the affidavit.
Earlier: A motorcyclist died after being hit by a SUV about 2 a.m. Saturday.
The motorcyclist, a white male, was traveling westbound on MLK Boulevard and making a left turn onto Southbound Ed Bluestein Boulevard.
According to police, witnesses saw a Ford SUV traveling eastbound run a red light and crash into the motorcycle.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead on the scene and a female passenger sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries, according to police. She was transported to Brackenridge Hospital.
Neither the driver of the motorcycle nor the passenger, whose identities were not released by police, were wearing helmets.
The driver of the SUV, who police also did not identify, was arrested and the vehicular homicide unit is handling the investigation, according to police.
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June 9, 2011
Man who died in U.S. 183 crash identified
Update: A man who died in a crash yesterday morning on U.S. 183 south of the airport has been identified as 58-year-old Richard Joseph Donnelly of Lockhart, Department of Public Safety officials said this morning.
The crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday when Donnelly’s 2001 Dodge pickup truck left northbound U.S. 183 near FM 973 for unknown reasons, officials said. Donnelly overcorrected and went into oncoming traffic, hitting an 18-wheeler head-on, officials said.
Earlier: Department of Public Safety officials said a man died Wednesday morning when his Dodge pickup truck collided head-on with an 18-wheeler on U.S. 183 near FM 973 south of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Officials said the driver of the Dodge truck overcorrected when he left the roadway for unknown reasons about 10 a.m. The two trucks collided head-on and the driver of the pickup died at the scene. No one else was in the vehicle with him, and he was wearing his seat belt, officials said. No one else was injured.
U.S. 183 was closed in both directions for several hours, officials said.
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May 27, 2011
Legislative aide charged in West Austin hit-and-run fatalilty
UPDATE 8:22 P.M.:
According to an arrest affidavit, a man told officers that Nestande was with him Thursday night and left to drive home during the night, but later returned. “She was crying when she returned, allegedly stating to (him) that someone had thrown something at her windshield,” the affidavit said.
When police interviewed Nestande at work, she admitted to being the driver and “being involved in an accident, being scared and not knowing what to do,” according to the affidavit. She declined to speak further to police and requested a lawyer, the affidavit said.
EARLIER: An aide to state Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, and former intern for Gov. Rick Perry’s re-election campaign was arrested and charged today in connection with an early morning hit-and-run fatality in Tarrytown.
Gabrielle Jane Nestande, 23, has been charged with failure to stop and render aid, a third-degree felony, and is currently in custody, police said.
The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Courtney Paige Griffin, according to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.
At an afternoon press conference, Austin police said Nestande had taken her vehicle to the home of an acquaintance following the incident. Nestande was taken to work at the Capitol by an acquaintance, police said.
“This morning, … (the) Texas Department of Public Safety requested to question one of Representative Christian’s employees,” Christian’s office said in a statement issued by chief of state Jon McClellan. “Rep. Christian and his office are cooperating fully with authorities as needed. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the parties involved.”
Police said the vehicle was located after receiving a tip from an anonymous caller at 9 a.m. The caller told police they saw a vehicle with a broken windshield. The vehicle, a black BMW 325 I-series, was located in a driveway at the 3100 block of Windsor Road, police said at the afternoon press conference.
The victim was walking on Exposition Boulevard between Bridle Path and Bonnie Road when she was struck, police said. A neighbor found the woman’s body in his driveway at about 5 a.m., police said. They said they were uncertain when the incident occurred.
On a Linkedin profile for Nestande, she is listed as an administrative aide at the Capitol since January. She is also listed as working as an a intern for Gov. Rick Perry’s 2010 campaign for ten months.
Perry spokesman Mark Miner confirmed Nestande was an unpaid intern during the campaign.
The Legislature honored Nestande with a resolution yesterday on her work at the Capitol.
“Since joining the staff, Ms. Nestande has managed her responsibilities in an exceptional manner, her professionalism has helped assure the efficient operation of the office and her commitment and hard work have been greatly appreciated by her colleagues,” the resolution said. It went on to commend her “for her service as an administrative aide in the office of state Rep. Wayne Christian and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success in all her endeavors.”
Correction: The correct spelling of Bridle Path has been updated in this entry.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
May 23, 2011
Motorcyclist killed in William Cannon crash identified
Update: Austin police have identified the motorcyclist killed in a crash in Southwest Austin Monday as 51-year-old Robert Craven, officials said in a statement Tuesday.
Shortly before 1 p.m. Monday, Craven was driving a 2008 Triumph Motorcycle westbound along the road when he lost control at the 7000 block of West William Cannon Drive, officials said.
A preliminary investigation shows Craven struck the south curb, causing him to fall from the motorcycle, officials said. He struck his head against a street light pole and was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
Craven was wearing a helmet and full protective gear, officials said. Neither speed nor alcohol appear to be contributing factors, they said.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-4779.
Earlier: One man died Monday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle on William Cannon Drive near Southwest Parkway, according to Austin police.
Police said the man was driving west on William Cannon when he struck a curb, which separated him from the motorcycle. He then struck an object and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Police are still investigating what he may have hit and are notifying relatives.
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May 14, 2011
Cedar Park motorcyclist dies in crash near Dripping Springs
A Cedar Park man was killed this morning when his motorcycle crossed over the center line of a Hays County road and struck an SUV, state police said.
Michael Saunders, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene after his westbound Honda Gold Wing crashed into an eastbound Chevrolet Tahoe on Fitzhugh Road about a tenth of a mile west of Crossroads Drive, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety said.
The driver of the SUV was not hurt, the spokesman said.
Saunders was wearing a helmet. The accident occurred at about 9:15 a.m., he said.
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May 9, 2011
Leander ISD teen dies a week after head injury
Travis County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the death of 15-year-old Amanda De La Torre, who they believe suffered a fatal skull fracture at a party on April 30.
Torre, who had been in a coma since the incident, was taken off life support this morning and died, officials said. She was a student at Vandegrift High School in the Leander school district.
Sheriff’s spokesman Roger Wade said Torre was with students from Vandegrift, Cedar Park and Lake Travis high schools at the party, which was held in a home in the 3200 block of Magenta Sky Trail.
The next day at 8:23 a.m., an ambulance was called for Torre. She was at another house in Steiner Ranch at that time, Wade said. She didn’t live at either home.
Officials believe Torre’s injuries could have happened 10 hours before the ambulance was called.
“Drugs and alcohol were involved at the party, which is why we can’t get a true story out of the kids that were there,” Wade said. “Right now, we are concerned about the death of this little girl.”
Wade said they are investigating the incident as a suspicious death and are waiting for the cause of death from the medical examiner.
Any witnesses are asked to call Detective Tom Szimanski at 854-3425 or CrimeStoppers at 472-8477.
In a letter sent home to parents today, Vandegrift High officials said:
Amanda passed away early this morning as a result of injuries she sustained a week ago off campus. … As many of you know, Amanda has a twin sister, Bianca who also attends VHS. Losing a classmate is often traumatic for students, even for those who may not have known Amanda.
This story has been fixed to show the correct name of VandegriftHigh School.
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April 23, 2011
Austin police investigate fatal hit and run
Austin police are investigating a fatal hit and run accident that happened around 10 p.m. Friday night near Decker Lane.
Police spokesman Lt. Robert Richman said the accident happened in the 9100 block of FM 969. He said a motorcyclist and a four-door Buick collided, and the Buick left the scene. The motorcyclist, whose name has not been released, was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he died.
Richman said no other details about the accident were available.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
April 11, 2011
Man identified from fatal Saturday crash, speed a factor
A man who died in a crash along Ed Bluestein Boulevard in Northeast Austin early Saturday morning has been identified as 33-year-old Derrick Miller, Austin police said Monday.
A preliminary investigation shows Miller was driving a 2002 Lincoln Navigator south in the 5800 block of Ed Bluestein Boulevard at a high rate of speed, police said.
The vehicle left the roadway, struck the guardrail on the west curb line and rolled several times, police said. Miller was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, police said.
Miller was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
April 8, 2011
Man dies after struck by vehicle in Bastrop County
A man died this morning after he was struck by a vehicle in Bastrop County, a Department of Public Safety official said.
Charles Eric Morris, 33, of Houston, died when he was struck along U.S. 290 near Highway 21 around 2:30 a.m. Friday, the official said.
Morris was in an unlit area of U.S. 290 when he ran out in front of a vehicle and was then struck, the official said.
Morris was declared dead on the scene, he said.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
April 5, 2011
Woman killed in Hays County motorcycle crash
A woman died Monday night after losing control of her motorcycle and striking a fence west of San Marcos, a Department of Public Safety official said.
Lisa Barron, 52, was traveling east on Hugo Road near Bridlewood Ranches Drive about 7:45 p.m. when she lost lost control, the official said. Barron was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where she later died.
Speed appears to be a factor in the crash, the official said. Barron was not wearing a helmet, and there were no other people on her motorcycle, he said.
(This article has been updated to correct the victim’s last name.)
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
March 30, 2011
Georgetown police investigate fatal crash into home
4:45 p.m. update:
Georgetown police on Wednesday afternoon identified the occupants of the car as 19-year-old Hasan Mateen, who was killed, and 20-year-old Daniel Browne-Kincaid, who was in critical condition.
Earlier:
One person was killed and another injured when a car crashed into a home in Georgetown this morning, officials said.
Two men were in a two-door convertible on Shell Road north of Williams Drive when the driver lost control about 7 a.m., Georgetown police Capt. Kevin Stofle said.
The vehicle left the roadway, struck a privacy fence and a rock column and then hit the rear corner of the house in the 900 block of Boquilla Trail, police Lt. Todd Terbush said.
The passenger died at the scene, Stofle said. He did not have any identification, and his age was not immediately known, he said.
The driver was taken to a hospital with critical injuries,Terbush said.
No one inside the home was injured, Stofle said.
Speed may have been a factor, Terbush said.
“Witnesses said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed,” he said.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
March 28, 2011
Woman dies after driver runs red light, police say
A woman died in a fatal crash Saturday night after police say it appears a vehicle ran a red light near the service roads of Interstate 35 and U.S. 290, Austin police said in a statement Monday.
Betty Louise Scott, 37, was traveling in one of the vehicles involved in the crash and was identified as the woman who died in the crash, police said.
An Oldsmobile was traveling east on the 290 service road when it collided with a Toyota Camry traveling on the southbound Interstate 35 service road, police said. The crash occurred at 7 p.m. Saturday, police said.
It wasn’t yet clear which vehicle ran the red light, a police spokesman said.
Scott was ejected from the vehicle and sustained life-threatening injuries, police said. She was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where she was pronounced dead, police said.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Austin police vehicular homicide unit detectives at (512) 974-6981.
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March 7, 2011
Teen killed in skateboarding accident remembered fondly
Lake Travis High School officials said Trevor Searle, who died in a skateboarding accident over the weekend, was the type of student who was friends with everyone.
An 18-year-old senior, Searle was riding a skateboard while holding onto a vehicle in the 4900 block of Cypress Ranch Boulevard about 1 p.m Saturday, according to the Travis County sheriff’s office. Searle fell off and was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge and died about 2 p.m.
The details of his accident have not yet been released.
Searle played double bass in the orchestra at the high school and spent a lot of his time playing extreme sports.
“Skateboarding, wakeboarding, longboarding — you name it, he probably did it,” said Lake Travis High School Principal Kimberly Brents.
Brents said counselors were at the school today, and she said students had brought in a wooden ramp for everyone to sign as a memorial.
Another memorial was placedt at the scene of his accident, said school district spokesman Marco Alavarado.
“My heart felt so heavy when I woke up this morning, and I was dreading the stress and grief that the day might bring,” Brents said. “Leaving (school), I felt so much better because of our kids coming together and being able to celebrate his life.”
Searle planned on attending the University of Utah this fall.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
Teen dies in skateboarding accident
Update from the Travis County Sheriff’s office:
On March 5, 2011, at 1:38pm, Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the 4900 Block of Cypress Ranch Blvd., in Southwest Travis County, concerning an Accidental Injury call.
When they arrived they found several teenagers in a vehicle and one person being treated by the Austin/Travis County EMS and Pedernales Fire Department.
The initial investigation shows that the victim, Trevor Ryan Searle, Date of Birth 12-22-1992, was clinging to the side of a vehicle on a skateboard as it was driving up the hill in the 4900 Block of Cypress Ranch Blvd., lost his balance and fell to the roadway.
He was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge, by STAR Flight, where he was pronounced deceased at 2:33pm.
The investigation into this incident is continuing. Detectives are working with the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.
Earlier:
An 18-year-old male died Saturday afternoon in a skateboarding accident.
The accident, which occurred on the 4900 block of Cypress Ranch Boulevard, occurred around 1 p.m., said Travis County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Roger Wade. Several teens were on riding their skateboards while holding onto a vehicle, which was pulling them uphill, when the teen fell off, Wade said.
It was unclear whether the teen was hurt because he hit the pavement or because the car ran him over, he said. The teen, whose name was not released, was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge and died around 2 p.m.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
February 6, 2011
One dead, two injured in racing crash
Austin police officials said street racing led to the death of one man and the injuries of two others on Saturday.
Police spokesman Jamie Jobes said that on Saturday afternoon two cars were racing on the 900 block of southbound U.S. 183 when they collided with an SUV that turned in front of them. The driver of one of the cars involved in the race was killed, Jobes said; two other motorists were transported to area hospitals but were later released. Jobes said it was unclear what vehicles the injured motorists were in.
The name of the deceased driver was not available Sunday, Jobes said.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
January 24, 2011
Two dead in two separate overnight crashes
Two people were killed in two separate overnight crashes in Bastrop County, a Texas Department of Safety official said Monday.
Rosanky resident Gary Witherspoon, 54, was killed while driving east on FM 535 about midnight, the official said. An investigation shows that Witherspoon failed to negotiate a curve and drove off the roadway, the official said. His 1999 Mercedes struck a tree, rolled and caught fire, the official said.
About 2:30 a.m., 57-year-old Tonda Armstrong of Bastrop was killed while driving a 2003 Ford F150 south on Texas 304 near the Hunters Crossing subdivision in Bastrop, the official said.
For unknown reasons, Armstrong crossed into the northbound lanes then hit a culvert, the official said. Her truck went airborne, rolled, and the driver was partially ejected, the official said.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
January 5, 2011
Head-on collision in Manor kills woman
Officials have identified the victim of a morning fatal wreck as 43-year-old Rachel Lynn Mossman, of Manor.
Mossman was driving east on Blake Manor Road in a 2004 Dodge pickup truck, Trooper Robbie Barrera with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Around 8:30 a.m., Mossman traveled into the westbound lane of Blake Manor Road in the 18600 block and collided head-on with a dump truck, Barrera said.
Mossman was pronounced deceased at the scene and the driver of the dump truck was not taken to a hospital, Barrera said.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
December 10, 2010
Man killed in wreck on Anderson Mill Road
A man was killed Thursday afternoon when the car he was driving crossed into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle in Northwest Austin, police said today.
According to a preliminary investigation, police said James Richard Bartlett, 76, was driving a silver Mazda Protege west at 4:11 p.m. in the 10400 block of Anderson Mill Road when he crossed the center line for unknown reasons and hit an eastbound vehicle.
Bartlett was taken to Round Rock Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:04 p.m. Neither alcohol nor speed is suspected in the crash, police said.
Anyone with information on the wreck is asked to call vehicular homicide detectives at 974-5520.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
December 7, 2010
MoPac crash victim identified
UPDATE: Police have identified the victim as 37-year-old Ryan Garrett Ransdell.
FROM SUNDAY:
One man died after the pickup he drove early this morning on MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) southbound rolled over several times and struck a light pole, Austin police Cpl. Anthony Hipolito said.
No other vehicle or person was involved in the crash, Hipolito said. Officials this morning did not identify the man, pending notification of relatives.
The call came in at 1:42 a.m., according to Hipolito.
The driver traveled at a high rate of speed and weaved through traffic in the 2200 block of south MoPac before the pickup lost control, Hipolito said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.
“Alcohol is suspected, but not confirmed at this time,” Hipolito said this morning.
Police said speed was a factor in the crash and Ransdell was not wearing a seat belt.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
November 29, 2010
Honor Flag for Fort Hood trooper killed helping motorist
The United States Honor Flag, which flew over Ground Zero after 9/11 and in Iraq during combat there, will accompany Wednesday’s funeral for Patrick Sirois, a Fort Hood police officer who was killed last week in Oklahoma while helping a stranded motorist.
Sirois, 50, was traveling to visit family for Thanksgiving last Tuesday when he stopped on the side of a highway near Eufala, Okla. to help a driver whose pickup had broken down. Another motorist struck the pickup, pinning Sirois, who was wearing a reflective traffic vest, against the guardrail, according to the Associated Press.
Sirois, who retired from the U.S. Army in 2002 after more than 20 years of service, was a civilian Fort Hood police officer and reserve officer for the Nolanville Police Department. Last year, he was named the Nolanville Officer of the Year.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday at noon at the Killeen Convention and Conference Center.
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November 25, 2010
Two killed in Highway 29 wreck
Two people were killed in a wreck Wednesday morning in Burnet County.
Bryan Jordan was driving a 2004 Chevrolet east on Highway 29 at about 10:34 a.m. when he failed to yield the right-of-way to two vehicles that were traveling west, Department of Public Safety officials said. Jordan was trying to turn north into a private driveway, DPS said.
Jordan, 46, of Burnet and a passenger in the Chevrolet, 57-year-old Kathy Sue Bowen of Burnet, died at the scene, according to a DPS report of the incident.
Three other people in the vehicle and four people in the other two vehicles were taken to Seton hospitals in Central Texas, DPS said. Two are still in serious condition today, Seton spokeswoman Adrienne Lallo said.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
November 5, 2010
Man arrested in overnight fatal hit-and-run on FM 969
A man was killed early Friday in East Austin when he was struck by a pickup that fled the scene, possibly while the man was checking on damage to his car from a previous hit-and-run wreck, police said.
Police have charged David Martinez Andaverde, 46, at right, with DWI in the case, and said more charges are pending.
The victim, a 47-year-old man whose name was not released pending notification of his family, was driving a 1998 Buick LeSabre east on FM 969 near Craigwood Drive when he was struck from behind by another vehicle about 2:25 a.m., police said. The driver of the second vehicle did not stop, while the Buick came to a rest in the road.
Witnesses said that after the driver of the Buick got out of the car, both he and his car were struck by an eastbound red Dodge pickup that also left the scene, according to police.
Investigators said the pickup lost its left front wheel in the collision, and that the truck then left gouge marks in the road as it continued east. Travis County sheriff’s deputies and witnesses followed the gouge marks and found the pickup in a driveway in the 9300 block of FM 969, where Andaverde was arrested, police said.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call vehicular homicide unit detectives at 974-8164.
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November 4, 2010
Teenager killed in collision on FM 812
An 18-year-old Del Valle man died yesterday after a collision along FM 812 near FM 973, according to an official for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Eduardo Martinez was driving a four-door Saturn west on FM 812 about 1:40 p.m. when he “failed to control speed” and entered the eastbound lane, striking a 2007 Nissan Altima, DPS communications officer Terry Jones said.
Martinez was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he was pronounced dead at 2:28 p.m., Jones said.
The driver of the Altima was not injured, a DPS official said, and a passenger was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge with minor injuries.
Martinez was wearing a seat belt, Jones said.
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November 2, 2010
Officials name truck driver who died in fiery crash
The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the truck driver who died in a fiery crash on U.S. 183 Saturday morning as 38-year-old Hector Garcia of Taylor.
Garcia died after the 18-wheeler he was driving flipped on an overpass at U.S. 183 and MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1). The truck was hauling gasoline and burst into flames.
The cause of death is pending, said Sarah Scott, chief administrative officer at the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“We’ll have to wait on toxicology results, which take six to eight weeks,” Scott said.
Austin police spokesman Dennis Farris said Saturday that investigators think the driver may have been going too fast and that may have contributed to his inability to navigate the curve.
The Austin Fire Department responded to the fire on the ramp with about 20 trucks and 75 firefighters, department spokesman Randall Elmore said Saturday.
Firefighters used a 3,100-foot hose to cool the steel rebar reinforcing the road and keep the structure from collapsing under the heat, Elmore said.
CORRECTION: This blog has been fixed to show the correct age of Hector Garcia.
Permalink | Categories: Fatal accidents
October 22, 2010
One dead in FM 969 vehicle collision
One person is dead following a two-vehicle collision on Farm-to-Market road 969 in eastern Travis County, according to a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The collision occurred sometime around 7:30 a.m. at the 11000 block of FM 969 near the intersection of Texas 130, according to the spokesman.
A 42-year-old male was ejected from the vehicle, and four others were injured with serious but not life-threatening injuries, said Warren Hassinger for the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. The four injured individuals were taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, Hassinger said.
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September 27, 2010
Woman killed in wreck near Thrall
UPDATE 4:20 P.M.:
Officials have identified the woman as 49-year-old Janet Barrow Zamora of Coupland.
UPDATE 11:30 A.M.:
A woman died in a fatal one-vehicle crash shortly before 7 a.m. today near Thrall, according to a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The female driver lost control of her 2002 two-door Hyundai along westbound on County Road 424 near the intersection of County Road 433, the spokeswoman said. She failed to negotiate a right turn and the car flipped, according to the spokeswoman.
The woman, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, was declared dead at the scene, the spokeswoman said.
EARLIER:
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a one-vehicle crash in Williamson County this morning that has left one person dead, a spokeswoman said.
The crash near County Road 424 and County Road 433, east of Taylor near Thrall, occurred shortly before 7 a.m., the spokeswoman said.
No other details were immediately available.
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September 6, 2010
Wreck victim identified
Police have released the name of the man killed Sunday afternoon in a wreck near the airport.
Phillip Ontiveros, 72 died Sunday at around 2:30 p.m. when a Chrysler 300 collided with a Chevrolet Suburban near the intersection of Highway 71 and Thornberry Road, police said. Ontiveros was a passenger in the Chrysler. The driver of the Chrysler, whose name police have not released, ran a red light at Thornberry and crashed into the passenger side of the Chevrolet, causing it to roll onto its side.
The driver of the Chrysler and Ontiveros were taken to University Medical Center-Brackenridge, where Ontiveros was pronounced dead. The two people in the Chevrolet sustained minor injuries, police said.
Police said they are still investigating the wreck and don’t know if charges will be filed against the driver of the Chrysler, an elderly female. Police said it doesn’t appear that speed or alcohol were factors in the crash, and they have not determined if the drivers and passengers were wearing seat belts.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit detectives at (512) 974-5520.
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August 28, 2010
Austin man dies in Hays County rollover accident
A 37-year-old Austin man died last night when he lost control of the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer he was driving, hit a fence and the car rolled over, officials said.
Just after 10 p.m. Friday, Alfonso Rocha was driving the car eastbound on FM 2001 when a tire blew out and the car hit a barbed wire fence, ejecting Rocha, who was not wearing a seatbelt, Texas Department of Public Safety officials said.
The car rolled over and came to rest on top of Rocha, according to authorities. He died at the scene, which was about two miles east of Windy Hill Road in Buda, officials said.
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August 22, 2010
Teen dies in Travis County wreck
This entry has been revised to correct the victim’s first name. It is Jon, not John.
A 17-year-old man died early this morning in a car crash in southern Travis County.
Department of Public Safety officials said Jon Travis Chin of Austin was driving northbound on Twin Creek Road near Twin Creek Drive just north of Buda when his 2001 Toyota sedan left the roadway and crashed into a tree. Chin was not wearing a seatbelt, officials said, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
No other vehicles were involved in the wreck, officials said.
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August 3, 2010
Elderly woman killed by teen in Georgetown
An elderly woman died Tuesday evening after she was struck by a 17-year-old male who was driving on University Avenue in Georgetown, police said.
According to release from the police department, the woman was walking in the 1300 block of University Avenue when she was struck by a Nissan Sentra about 9 p.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
No names are being released pending family notification and police said the incident is still under investigation.
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July 16, 2010
No charges filed in fatal golf cart accident
Even though an investigation showed alcohol use may have played a role, authorities have decided not to file charges in the May 1 death of a 17-year-old Hays High School student.
Alyssa Marie Bargsley of Kyle died after falling off a golf cart driven by another teenager in the Hill Country town of Kingsland.
At the time, officers said the driver was swerving back and forth, and Bargsley fell when the cart hit a bump in the road. She hit her head on pavement.
On Friday, TABC announced the findings of its investigation with the Llano County sheriff’s office and the Department of Public Safety. TABC said in a news release:
The investigation … reveals that Bargsley and two other minors, a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old, had consumed alcoholic beverages at a residence in Kingsland, Texas, prior to the accident. However, statements collected in connection with the investigation indicate that the minors had obtained the alcoholic beverages from inside the house without the knowledge of any adults.
The case investigation was reviewed by Llano County Attorney Cheryll Mabray. Mabray agreed with the agency’s findings and elected not to pursue charges for furnishing alcoholic beverages to the minors, a charge that requires proof of criminal negligence.
In keeping with agency policy, TABC agents did not charge any of the minors involved with the illegal possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages. TABC’s Carson Starkey Amnesty Policy enacted in 2009 says that TABC will not charge minors with the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages when someone has called 911 because of a medical emergency. TABC Administrator Alan Steen said, “It is our hope that publicizing this policy will encourage young people to call 911 if a friend is in danger from alcohol poisoning or any other medical emergency. We don’t want any life to be lost because someone is afraid of getting in trouble for underage drinking.”
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July 5, 2010
Motorcyclist struck, killed Sunday night
UPDATE: Austin police officials have identified the victim of traffic fatality #26 as 53-year-old Donald Ingram Jr.
EARLIER: A crash near South Congress Avenue and Alpine Road last night left a motorcyclist dead, according to police.
A 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck was pulling out of a private drive on the 3600 block of South Congress Avenue when it hit the motorcyclist around 10 last night, police said. The Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling south and t-boned the driver’s side of the Chevrolet.
The biker was transported to the University Medical Center Brackenridge and died of injuries, police said. He was not wearing a helmet. The driver of the pick-up truck was not injured.
Police said it is unclear whether alcohol or speed was involved in the accident.
This is Austin’s 26th traffic fatality of the year, according to authorities.
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June 20, 2010
Father, son die in Lake Georgetown
A father and son died after their car drove off a boat ramp into Lake Georgetown at Cedar Breaks Park about 11 p.m. Saturday, said Assistant Chief Kevin Stofle with the Georgetown Police Department.
Scott Douglas Hughes, 31, and his 5-year-old son, Ethan Hughes, from Georgetown, were pronounced dead at the scene at 1:50 a.m. Sunday.
Four witnesses at the boat ramp who were waiting to exit the lake said they saw Hughes’ black 2009 Chevrolet Impala drive off the ramp. The witnesses told police that Hughes’ vehicle neither sped up nor slowed down when approaching the water where the posted speed limit is 10 mph, Stofle said.
The witnesses tried to rescue the father and son, as did as responders from Georgetown police, the Williamson County sheriff’s office, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from Lake Georgetown.
Stofle said at one point a dozen officers shed their gear and tried swimming down to the vehicle that sunk to a depth of 20 feet.
Investigators do not know why the father and son’s vehicle drove into the water.
“It’s too preliminary in the investigation to know that at this time,” Stofle said.
When a wrecker pulled the vehicle from the water, officers noticed that two of the vehicle’s windows were down, Stofle said.
Cedar Breaks Park, located on the south shore, is one of three parks in the area with a boat ramp. Lake Georgetown was busy this past weekend and is nearly full at about 792 feet, Stofle said.
“It’s a very popular spot, especially because it’s a holiday weekend with Father’s Day and the start of summer,” he said.
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June 11, 2010
Roadway open after fatal motorcycle crash
UPDATE: The Austin Police Department has identified the man killed this morning in a motorcycle wreck in North Austin as Lester Quisenberry, 56.
Officers responded to a motorcycle crash in the 400 block East Koenig Lane at 2:18 a.m. A preliminary investigation shows that Quisenberry was traveling west on U.S. 290 East approaching Koenig Lane when he lost control and struck the concrete median, police said.
Quisenberry was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge in serious condition. He later died.
Police said it appears alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash. The case remains under investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at 974-8164.
This is the 18th fatality of 2010. At this time in 2009 there were 31 fatalities in Austin.
EARLIER: Austin police said all lanes of Koenig Lane are reopened after a fatal motorcycle crash triggered closures close to the intersection of Interstate 35 early this morning, a police official said.
The collision occurred at the 400 block of East Koenig Lane close to 2 a.m. this morning, the official said.
The motorcyclist, a male, was traveling westbound on Koenig when he lost control and hit a median, the official said.
The motorcyclist suffered head trauma, suffering injuries to his forehead, and was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge where he was pronounced dead, the police official said.
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February 18, 2010
Police identify pedestrian killed near Parmer Lane
UPDATE: The man killed in an auto-pedestrian crash near Parmer Lane on Tuesday evening has been identified as Christopher David Conklin, 37, Austin police said Thursday. It was the third traffic fatality of the year, police said.
EARLIER: Austin police are reporting a man was struck and killed as he was trying to cross the frontage road about 9:46 p.m. Tuesday in North Austin.
Police said he was walking in one of the southbound lanes of the Interstate 35 frontage road near Parmer Lane, when he was struck by a silver SUV.
The man, who police believed was a transient, was pronounced dead that the scene.
Police have shut down all four lanes of the frontage road, just north of Parmer Lane.
UPDATE, Feb. 23: This story has been updated to correct an error. Austin police said Feb. 23 that the case is not being investigated as a hit-and-run as the Statesman previously reported. Sgt. Keith Bazzle said that the driver stopped to render aid after the crash and that no charges have been filed.
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February 12, 2010
Pflugerville student killed in wreck
A 17-year-old Pflugerville high school student was killed Thursday night in a two-vehicle crash on the frontage road of Texas 130 near Gattis School Road in Williamson County.
George Loera III, a senior at Hendrickson High School, was riding in a Dodge Durango on Gattis School Road with two other students just before 9:30 p.m., according to the Department of Public Safety.
The driver, Chase Michael Tabor, disregarded a red light while driving west on Gattis School Road and was struck by Honda Pilot driving north on the frontage road, officials said.
Another student in the Durango, Gillian Rowell, was taken to Seton Medical Center Williamson with facial injuries, and was treated and released, according to officials.
Tabor and the driver of the Pilot, Heather Varela, were uninjured, officials said.
The case remains under investigation.
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January 29, 2010
Rally planned near site where Round Rock girl struck, killed
Round Rock Police Department officials have identified Shaylah Dame as the 12-year-old who was struck and killed about 6:50 p.m. Thursday in the 1800 block of Gattis School Road.
Dame was hit was near the Clay Madsen Recreation Center in Round Rock.
A sixth grader at Fulkes Middle School, Dame was walking home from a skate park where she had been with friends when the collision happened, said Joylynn Occhiuzzi, a spokeswoman for the Round Rock school district.
She was crossing the street alone when she was hit by the car, Occhiuzzi said.
“Her friends described her as being cheerful, friendly, and she knew how to make people laugh,” Occhiuzzi said.
Shaylah was involved in the choir and also a member of a girl empowerment club, Occhiuzzi said. Students at the school were receiving counseling from crisis counselors today, she said.
Residents from the neighborhood will be holding a rally at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of the Clay Madsen Recreation Center, Occhiuzzi said.
Neighbors say they plan to ask for a crosswalk next to the recreation center.
Dame’s parents, whose names she declined to release, will not be attending the rally, Occhiuzzi said.
Witnesses told police the girl ran south, mid-block, in front of traffic, said police spokesman Eric Poteet. She was struck by a westbound Toyota sedan driven by a Hutto woman.
The car’s driver stopped immediately and tried to render aid, but the girl never regained consciousness. The girl was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead an hour later, he said.
Poteet said no charges are expected to be filed against the driver, whose name is being withheld pending completion of the investigation.
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December 16, 2009
7-year-old girl killed in rear end collision
A 7-year-old girl in the back seat of an SUV died Tuesday night after the SUV was struck in the rear end by a pickup truck at a stop light on RM 620 at Comanche Trail.
The driver of both vehicles and two passengers in the SUV were hospitalized with injuries that did not threaten their lives, Department of Public Safety spokesman Michael Chernivec said today.
Josefina Delgado was pronounced dead at the scene about 30 minutes after the 8:33 p.m. collision, Chernivec said.
The driver of the SUV Josefina was riding in, Francisco Gutierres, 59, Josefina’s mother, Josefina Delgado, 45, and the driver of the pickup that collided with the SUV, Michael Winders, 40, were taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge, Chernivec said.
Bertha Delgado, 15, and Leonicio Delgado, 11, were taken to Dell Children’s Medical Center, he said.
Gutierres’ SUV was westbound on RM 620, stopped at a red light, when Winders’ westbound pickup slammed into the rear end. Accident investigators Wednesday continued to investigate the circumstances of the collision, Chernivec said. No citations have been issued and no charges have been filed in connection with the crash, he said.
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December 15, 2009
Woman struck, killed by car in Pflugerville
Department of Public Safety officials have identified a woman who was killed this morning in Pflugerville after being struck by a car as 63-year-old Mary Rodriguez Valdez.
A dispatcher with DPS said Valdez and another person were crossing FM 1825, near Vision Drive, about 6 a.m. Tuesday when she was struck by a 2000 Mitsubishi Galant.
The dispatcher said the other pedestrian was not injured, and both were wearing dark clothing and walking in an unlit area of the road.
No charges have been filed.
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November 28, 2009
Round Rock woman dies in overnight accident
A 45-year-old Round Rock woman was killed Saturday morning when she was ejected from a car during a rollover accident on County Road 170 in Williamson County, Department of Public Safety officials said.
Teresa Lugo Brooks was a passenger in the 2005 Jaguar that Ricardo Lugo, 45, of Round Rock was driving, authorities said. At around 2:10 a.m., Lugo was driving northbound on Grand Avenue Parkway, when he failed to negotiate a turn and the car rolled over ejecting Brooks, a dispatcher said.
Lugo was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he was in stable condition this morning. Brooks died at the scene at 3:15 a.m., officials said. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to DPS officials.
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November 12, 2009
Officials looking for suspect in fatal hit-and-run
The Department of Public Safety is asking for the public’s help in finding the driver of a gravel truck that fled the scene of a collision that killed 5-year-old Lilly Bunker of Kyle on Oct. 26 in Caldwell County.
The sole description of the truck is a white or gray 19-wheel gravel truck with a bottom- or rear-dumping capacity, said Tela Mange, a DPS spokeswoman.
The truck left the scene of a collision 7:15 a.m. Oct. 26 on Texas 80 near FM 1977, Mange said. The northbound gravel truck was changing lanes in wet conditions when it collided with a 1982 Mercedes-Benz, which was forced into southbound traffic.
The Mercedes hit a 1995 black Chevrolet Camaro driven by Lilly Bunker’s mother. The Mercedes driver, Lilly’s mother and her 7-year-old brother survived, Mange said. Lilly Bunker was taken to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, where she later died, said Tom Vinger, a DPS spokesman.
Anyone with information about the collision or about the driver who fled the scene is asked to call DPS at 512-398-4333.
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November 3, 2009
Pedestrian struck, killed on FM 620
UPDATE:
Travis County accident investigators this afternoon were still trying to piece together the events leading up to a collision with an 18-wheeler that killed a pedestrian this morning on FM 620 near Quinlan Park Road.
The identity of the victim, who appeared to be about 30 years old, has not released, Travis county Sheriff’s Capt. Art Cardenas said.
Witnesses told investigators they saw the man walking on the side of the roadway about 8 a.m., Cardenas said. The victim’s car was parked on the side of the road near the site of the collision, he said.
It appears the man at one point stepped into the roadway where he was struck at highway speed by a westbound 18-wheeler, Cardenas said. The driver of the semi stopped and notified authorities, he said.
No charges were filed in connection with the incident, Cardenas said.
Laura Skelding American-Statesman
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Driver killed when 18-wheeler overturns in Round Rock
The driver of an 18-wheeler carrying building supplies was killed this morning when his truck flipped over on the southbound frontage road of Interstate 35 at Westinghouse Road, Round Rock police spokesman Eric Poteet said.
The driver was the only person in the truck when the wreck occurred about 8:15, and there were no other injuries, Poteet said.
The driver’s identity was not immediately available, Poteet said.
The truck had been lying on its side, and some lumber and debris was strewn across the southbound frontage road. The truck has been towed away, and the roadway is clear, officials said
The southbound frontage road at Westinghouse is open again, and traffic on I-35 is flowing in both directions, Poteet said.
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November 2, 2009
Cyclist struck, killed Sunday is identified
Austin police have identified a 22-year-old bicyclist who was struck and killed Sunday morning on Texas 71 as Robert Mendez.
Mendez died about 4:30 a.m. after he was struck by a Nissan Pathfinder while riding in a highway exit lane near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Cpl. Scott Perry said.
Poor lighting at the exit might have made it hard for the driver to see Mendez, who was dressed in a black jacket and black pants and was riding a black bicycle without lights, Perry said.
The driver stopped after the crash and cooperated with investigators, Perry said, and no charges are expected to be filed. The case, however, remains under investigation.
Anyone with information about Austin’s 55th fatality of the year is asked to call 974-4742.
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Woman hit by car Oct. 10 dies, police say
Jo Anna Smith-Ayers, a 24-year-old woman struck by a car in the early morning hours of Oct. 10 on the service road of U.S. 290 in Northeast Austin, died of her injuries Sunday at University Medical Center Brackenridge, police said.
Smith-Ayers, who police said was wearing all black clothing at the time, was struck by an eastbound Honda as she stood in the middle of the service road near Berkman Drive, Cpl. Scott Perry said today.
No charges are expected to be filed, Perry said. The driver of the car stopped and cooperated with investigating officers. Neither alcohol nor speed was a factor in the collision, he said.
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October 31, 2009
1 killed, three injured in overnight accident
An 18-year-old Del Valle mechanic was killed and three others were injured when the car they were riding in swerved to avoid an animal in the road and struck a tree, Department of Public Safety officials said today.
The accident happened around 12:32 a.m., according to authorities. Jose Manuel Henriquez, who was driving the 2008 Honda sedan, was driving the car southbound in the 8600 block of Elroy Road, east of Austin in Travis County. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Officials said that he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three others who were in the car were taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge with serious injuries. A DPS dispatcher said that Daniel Guillermo, 19; Eric Navarrete, 17 and Freddie Cruz, 19, were all listed in serious condition Saturday.
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October 29, 2009
Pedestrian killed on Anderson Lane
Austin police today said a man was struck by a car and killed Wednesday night in the 1100 block of East Anderson Lane, between Providence and Blessing avenues about 9:25 p.m.
The 47-year-old man was standing in the middle of the road for unknown reasons, police said, and was struck by a silver Dodge. Police said he was wearing dark clothing. No drugs or alcohol are suspected, and charges are not expected to be filed.
The man, who police have not identified pending notification of family, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. Any witnesses are asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-4724.
It was Austin’s 53rd traffic fatality of 2009.
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October 27, 2009
Troopers identify victim in fatal Northwest Travis County wreck
One person was killed this morning in a collision between truck and a motorcycle at Round Mountain Road and Big Sandy Drive in Northwest Travis County west of Leander, officials say.
Tom Vinger, a spokesman with the Department of Public Safety, said the motorcycle was traveling east on Round Mountain Road, and a truck was traveling west. About 9:50 a.m. Tuesday, the driver of the truck failed to yield before attempting to turn left onto Big Sandy Drive, and the motorcyclist struck the truck.
The driver of the motorcycle was 42-year-old Kristopher Klein, of Leander, Vinger said. He said Klein was wearing a helmet.
Vinger said no charges against the woman have been filed, but the collision is still under investigation.
Check back for more details.
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October 14, 2009
Pedestrian struck, killed on Burnet Road, police say
An elderly man killed this morning when he was hit by a car while trying to cross Burnet Road at Richcreek Road in North Austin has been identified this afternoon at William Boykin, 83, police said.
Boykin, who was using a walker, was crossing Burnet when the light turned green, police Lt. Brian Gruetzner said. He was hit by a red Honda Civic that had been approaching the intersection when the light changed, Gruetzner said. Boykin was dragged about 100 feet from the intersection, he said.
It was dark at the time of the crash, and the driver has told police he did not see the man until the crash, Gruetzner said. No charges are expected to be charged, police said.
Police were also investigating a fatal crash that happened about 1:30 a.m. at the intersection of East Seventh Street and Chicon in East Austin, police said.
Two vehicles collided in the intersection, police said, and both drivers were taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where one later died.
Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN
An Austin police officer looks over a car involved in a fatal auto-pedestrian accident on Burnet Road at Richcreek on Wednesday morning.
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August 31, 2009
Dead Fort Hood soldier identified
Fort Hood officials have released the name of a soldier who was found dead in his barracks room August 26. The cause of death is still undetermined at this time.
Pvt. Stephen Alexander Blake, 24, of Chicago, Ill., entered the military August 2007 as an Infantryman and was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division since January 2008. He served a tour in Iraq from August 2007 until January 2008.
Blake was found unresponsive in his barracks room by a member of his unit. Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin arrived on scene and pronounced the soldier deceased.
Blake’s decorations and awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.
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August 8, 2009
2 killed in Smithville accident
Texas Department of Public Safety officials say two people died early this morning when the Chevy Tahoe they were riding in rolled over, went airborne and ejected them from the vehicle.
Their names and ages have not been released because troopers haven’t notified their family members, DPS trooper Darryl Tidwell said.
The one vehicle accident happened underneath the Colorado River Bridge off of Texas 71 at around 12:30 a.m. Tidwell said a 2001 Chevy Tahoe was traveling westbound on 71 and drifted into a ditch. Then, he said the car went airborne, rolled several times and struck several trees before it came to rest.
Two passengers were ejected and died, four were injured. Two of the passengers were sent to Smithville Regional Hospital and two others were taken to Brackenridge. He said teenagers were injured in the accident, but he could not give more information this morning, he said.
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July 28, 2009
One killed in Hays County train wreck
One person is dead after a train struck an automobile in Hays County, law enforcement officials said today.
About 3:30 p.m., emergency crews received a call of a train collision at the railroad tracks on Center Point Road, south of San Marcos near the outlet malls.
The Department of Public Safety is investigating. No other details were immediately available.
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July 27, 2009
Man found dead in pond was Dripping Springs priest
UPDATE: Police have identified the man found dead Sunday evening inside a vehicle in a retention pond off Texas 45 as 74-year-old James Kenna.
Kenna was the priest of Saint Sophia Orthodox Church in Dripping Springs. There will be a prayer service for him at 7:30 tonight at the church. More information is at the church Web site
Investigators said Kenna was traveling eastbound when his red Chrysler PT Cruiser left the road, crashed into a fence and flipped over into the retention pond, said Austin police spokesman Cpl. Scott Perry.
Perry said a passerby noticed the tires of the vehicle sticking out of the water near the 5100 block of the highway and called 911 around 6:30 p.m. He said EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene. Police have not yet reported what caused the crash or when it occurred.
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July 9, 2009
Motorcyclist killed in overnight accident
Austin police are investigating a fatal collision that occurred about 2:55 a.m. at the intersection of Springdale Road and 51st Street.
Austin police Lt. Cedric Hudson said a motorcycle was traveling west on 51st and a silver Mazda was traveling south on Springdale Road when the Mazda struck the motorcycle.
The motorcycle driver was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he was later pronounced deceased, Hudson said. Police described him as a white male in his 60s.
It was still unclear if the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, Hudson said, but he suffered massive head and leg injuries. His identity has not been released pending notification of relatives.
Hudson said the driver of the Mazda, 33-year-old Rudy Lucero, was also taken to Brackenridge with minor injuries. He has been arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter.
Police are asking for any witnesses to call vehicular homicide at 974-4761. This is the city’s 39th fatal accident of 2009.
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June 29, 2009
Teen killed on Texas 130 Sunday night identified
Officials have identified a teenager who was killed on the Texas 130 toll road near Pflugerville as Linel Edward James, 17.
Preliminary reports show that James was in the roadway just south of Cameron Road when he was struck by a tractor-trailer driven by a man from Mason, said Tela Mange, a spokeswoman with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
James was pronounced dead at the scene, Mange said. It is unclear if any charges will be filed against the driver, who stopped after the crash, Mange said.
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June 28, 2009
Austin man dies in accident in Llano County
An Austin man died Saturday afternoon when his Honda ran off the road in Llano County.
Kirk Elliot Holladay, 40, was heading east on RR 965 when his Honda ran off the roadway to the right as the road curved to the left, according to Department of Public Safety dispatcher Allen Muller. The vehicle hit a concrete culvert before rolling numerous times, he said.
Holladay was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:22 p.m.
UPDATE: Due to incorrect information given by the Texas Department of Public Safety, previous reports that Holladay was driving a motorcycle have been corrected. Holladay was driving a Honda hatchback, according to DPS.
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June 27, 2009
Leander police investigate fatal traffic accident
The Leander Police Department is investigating a fatal traffic accident that happened on Ranch Road 2243, near U.S. 183, just after 6 a.m. this morning.
A dispatcher with the police department confirmed that the accident was fatal but she said she could not release more information. The number of individuals or vehicles involved in the accident was also not released.
Check back with Statesman.com for more details.
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June 24, 2009
Construction worker killed by hit-and-run driver
Austin police are investigating a fatal accident that killed a construction worker on southbound Interstate 35 about 1:30 this morning.
Police said a dark-colored sport-utility vehicle ran through a clearly marked construction zone and hit the worker in the 11400 block of I-35, near Onion Creek Parkway. The driver fled the scene, and nobody else was injured, police said.
The worker has been identified as Fontino Cortes-Cruz, 36, police said.
The SUV went south after the crash, and Austin police notified Hays County officials to be on the lookout for the vehicle, said Sgt. Richard Stresing with the Austin Police Department.
Hays County sheriff’s deputies found a burned dark-colored SUV outside of Kyle about 4 a.m., Stresing said.
Shortly after, police received a call from South Austin Hospital that a man with burns on his body had checked into the hospital, Stresing said.
Police are interviewing him as a person of interest in the crash, Stresing said.
Cortes-Cruz was part of a crew that was repaving the interstate, said Marcus Cooper, spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation. He had been laying reflective tabs on the highway when he was hit, Cooper said.
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June 17, 2009
Austin construction worker killed in Louisiana accident, officials say
An Austin construction worker who was killed in a construction accident on a bridge near New Orleans has been identified this week as 26-year-old Martin Reyes Osuno.
Osuno died Friday after falling 75 to 80 feet to the ground from the Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi River, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.
A 33-year-old worker from Louisiana also died when the steel rebar cage the men were working on gave way, the sheriff’s office said.
Osuno’s last known address was Austin, but his relatives live in Mexico, according to the Jefferson Parish coroner’s office. The coroner’s office declined to release information about where the relatives lived in Mexico.
Crews have been working to expand the 74-year-old bridge, New Orleans’ Times-Picayune reported.
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June 13, 2009
UPDATE: 2 killed in Leander morning accident
Two people were killed when their motorcycle swerved out of control near Leander motorcycle accident around 8:10 a.m. Saturday, according to Department of Public Safety officials.
Eric Kaufman, 23, of Cypress, and Rosse Torres, 23, of Cypress, were killed when Kaufman, who was driving, failed to slow down in a sharp curve on the 11700 block of Lime Creek Road. The motorcyle went into a side skid and then rolled. Both Kaufman and Torres were wearing helmets.
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June 11, 2009
Fatal accident closes south lanes of Harris Branch Parkway
One man is dead and two others have been taken to the hospital with minor injures after a crash in 10700 block of Harris Branch Drive this morning, according to the Austin Police Department.
Police say the three men were leaving the scene of a theft in progress. Police were called out to Gaelic Drive following a report of men stealing car rims. When an officer arrived, he saw a silver Chevrolet Malibu leaving the scene at a high rate of speed without its lights on.
There was no pursuit, police said, but the suspects’ vehicle slammed into a tree on Harris Branch Parkway, killing the driver and injuring the two passengers.
None of the men was wearing a seatbelt, police said. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are still investigating.
Four tires with rims were found in the Malibu and returned to the owner on Gaelic Drive, police said in a statement.
Check back for updates.
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June 7, 2009
Man dies in accident on 290
Gilberto Huerta, 23, of Conroe died early Sunday morning of injuries from a car accident that happened at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Police are looking for the driver of the other vehicle, a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado truck, who fled on foot after the accident, according to Austin police Sergeant Richard Stresing.
The driver of the Silverado was traveling the wrong way on the eastbound lanes of U.S. 290 in east Austin near Berkman Drive when it collided head-on with a 2004 Chevrolet Impala, Stresing said.
Huerta, who was driving the Impala, died later at University Medical Center-Brackenridge. Two passengers were also taken to the hospital, where Stresing said they are listed as stable with injuries that are not life-threatening.
Stresing said the driver of the Chevrolet, once found, will be charged at the least with failure to stop and render aid, a felony.
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May 30, 2009
1 killed in Elgin rollover accident
Austin and Travis County officials say one person has died in an accident after a driver went off the roadway in a vehicle and rolled over into a ravine.
The person’s name, gender and age have not yet been released, pending positive identification and notification of family members.
The accident happened at 13300 Klaus Lane in Elgin around 7 a.m., when Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services officials received a wilderness rescue call, according to EMS spokesman Warren Hassinger.
Officials said one confirmed occupant was in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Department of Public Safety troopers were at the scene today investigating, officials there said, but no other information about the incident was immediately available.
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May 23, 2009
1 dies in morning auto pedestrian accident
Austin police are investigating a traffic accident that led to the death of a 53-year-old woman early Saturday.
Police spokeswoman Veneza Aguiñaga said Melanie Luttrell was crossing McNeil Drive from North to South at around 12:33 a.m. when a westbound Jeep Patriot struck her.
Luttrell was pronounced dead the scene.
The man who was driving the Jeep remained at the scene and was not injured, Aguiñaga said. No charges are expected to be filed.
Police ask anyone with information regarding this incident to call Austin Police Department Vehicular Homicide detectives, who are investigating the accident, at (512) 974-8266.
Luttrell’s death is Austin’s 31st traffic fatality in 2009.
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May 17, 2009
Killeen man dies in hit-and-run
Police in Killeen are investigating a fatal hit-and-run Saturday evening.
Police say Orlando Rivera-Paz, 48, was traveling east on Veterans Memorial Boulevard around 8 p.m. when his motorcycle was struck by a maroon car turning in front of him. Rivera-Paz dropped the motorcycle before striking the car’s passenger side and sliding under the car, police said.
The driver of the car sped off, running over Rivera-Paz, police said. Rivera-Paz was pronounced dead about an hour later at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple, police said. The car is believed to be a Dodge Intrepid, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call (254) 501-8830.
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May 12, 2009
Man killed in Round Rock crash
A Round Rock man was killed Sunday evening after he lost control of his car while driving north on Interstate 35 near FM 3406, police said today.
Gilberto Dejesus Cruz, 39, was driving a blue sedan at a high speed while swerving in and out of traffic, police said.
Police said Cruz lost control of the vehicle, and he was ejected from it as it rolled several times. He was the only person in the car, and no other people were injured. Cruz was not wearing his seatbelt, police reported.
The highway had to be closed for about two hours, said Round Rock police, because of excessive debris in the road. The highway was reopened about 10:20 p.m.
It is undetermined if drugs or alcohol impairment was a factor. It was Round Rock’s first fatality of 2009.
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May 2, 2009
Texas State University student dies in morning accident
Texas State University-San Marcos police are investigating an accident that led to the death of a 39-year-old student Saturday morning.
University officials said the student, identified Saturday as Kevin Ray Cresap of San Marcos, drove his 2007 Hyundai off the road into Sink Creek on the Aquarena Center property on Texas State campus, Mark Hendricks, a spokesman for the university said. The incident happened around 3:21 a.m., Hendricks said.
A University police officer saw the car’s headlights beneath the water’s surface and called fire and rescue workers, and a wrecker to remove the overturned and submerged car from the creek. When the car was retrieved from the water, Cresap was found inside, Hendricks said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by Hays County Justice of the Peace Margie Hernandez.
A preliminary investigation indicates that Cresap had turned onto Laurel Ridge from Aquarena Springs Drive when he lost control of his car and drove into the creek, Hendricks said. He said an autopsy has been scheduled.
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April 25, 2009
Girl electrocuted in Cedar Park
A 10-year-old girl died this afternoon after she came into contact with electrical wiring outside her home in Cedar Park, officials said.
About 3:30 p.m., family members found Cecilia Isquierdo outside the home, in the 2100 block of East Riviera Drive, after they realized she wasn’t in the house, police said.
Emergency officials were called, but Cecilia died before they arrived, police said.
“The child was up on a fence and touched some wiring that led to the house with a garden hose, and that’s what caused the electrocution,” Cedar Park Capt. Jeff Hayes said.
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April 21, 2009
Fatal accident on Bee Cave Road
Officials are on scene of a fatal wreck on Bee Cave Road near MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) that occurred this morning.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating and the Travis County sheriff’s office is assisting with traffic, authorities said today. Officials reported one woman died in the wreck shortly before 11 a.m.
Sgt. Dane Baker of the DPS said a gold Toyota pickup was traveling west on Bee Cave in the far right lane when a white Mazda RX in the left lane clipped the back of the truck, causing the truck to spin into the eastbound lane of Bee Cave. He said the truck was then struck on the side by an eastbound Toyota Yaris. The woman driving the Yaris was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the truck was taken to a nearby hospital, Baker said. The driver of the Mazda was not injured, he said.
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April 10, 2009
Police: Woman flipped over median in fatal wreck
Police are still clearing a fatal wreck on Interstate 35, near Capital Plaza, and traffic remains slow this afternoon.
At 12:21 p.m., a 33-year-old woman driving a black Mustang north at the 5600 block of Interstate 35, crossed three lanes of the frontage road, flipped in the air and flipped across the parking lot of the Chase Bank building and struck the roof of a Chevy SUV, said Austin police Sgt. Richard Stresing.
The Mustang landed on its roof at least 100 feet from the highway. The woman, who police have not identified pending notification of relatives, was pronounced dead at the scene
The driver of the SUV was filling out paper work inside the car when it was struck by the Mustang, Stresing said. The woman in the SUV was checked by EMS and was not injured. Witnesses said the Mustang was driving at a high rate of speed, Stresing said.
He said it was unknown why the driver left the main lanes of I-35.
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April 6, 2009
Police identify man who died in motorcycle crash
Police have identified a motorcycle rider who was killed in a crash that involved six motorcycles, a Mercedes and a Chevrolet pickup at 1:47 early Sunday morning on East Martin Luther King Boulevard just west of Springdale Road.
Police say they have arrested the driver who, according to police, caused the accident in which Maurice Britt, of San Antonio, died and two others were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Mario Hernandez-Rodriguez, 21, was arrested Sunday, and police say they will charge him with intoxication manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid. Hernandez-Rodriguez remains in the Travis County Jail.
Corporal Scott Perry of the Austin Police Department said the motorcycles and Mercedes were traveling east on MLK Boulevard when Hernandez-Rodriguez, headed westbound, veered into oncoming traffic and hit the Mercedes, then continued in the eastbound lanes and hit two of the motorcycles, Perry said. Hernandez-Rodriguez then fled on foot and was found by Austin police officers and an Austin Police K-9.
Britt, 36, was pronounced dead on the scene, Perry said. A 30-year-old female, who was a passenger on the motorcycle, and a 42-year-old male, the driver of a second motorcycle, were taken to University Medical Center-Brackenridge, Perry said, where their condition was listed as critical Sunday. The driver of the Mercedes was not transported to the hospital, Perry said. Police did not have an update on their conditions Monday.
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April 5, 2009
Fatal rollover accident in Brazos County
One man died and one was injured Saturday evening in an accident in Brazos County in a suburb of College Station, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Kasey Lynn Vanhoose, 22, was driving a Ford Ranger pickup at 7:15 p.m. on FM 2124 in Millican when law enforcement authorities say he became distracted and drove off of the roadway. He over-corrected, authorities say, and the pickup rolled over. Passenger Bradley David Abbe, 21, from Weatherford, Okla., died on the scene. Vanhoose, of Sunset, was injured.
His condition was unknown Sunday morning.
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March 30, 2009
Police identify motorcyclist killed on North Lamar
Police have identified a a 22-year-old motorcyclist who was killed Sunday night in a two-vehicle crash on North Lamar Avenue.
Police say Sean Ervin of Austin was traveling south at a high rate of speed in the 2600 block of North Lamar at about 8 p.m. when he lost control on a curve. The motorcycle crossed into the street’s northbound lane and hit a Honda Accord, police said.
Ervin was wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The two occupants of the Honda were not injured, police said.
It was Austin’s 13th traffic fatality of the year, police said.
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March 26, 2009
Pedestrian dies in collision with train
Austin police are investigating a report that a Union Pacific engine hit and killed a man tonight on railroad tracks about 400 feet from the Seaholm Power Plant in Central Austin.
Police had no identification on the victim as of 10:30 p.m., police spokeswoman Veneza Aguiñaga said. The victim was described as a white man in his 40s.
Union Pacific officials contacted police at 9:03 p.m. The engineer reported having hit an object or person on the tracks at about the 300 block of West Paul Street.
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March 21, 2009
1 killed in early morning traffic accident
Police are investigating a one-vehicle accident in Northwest Austin early Saturday that left one man dead.
Lt. Max Johnson, a spokesman for the Austin Police Department, said that a man was driving a 2002 GMC pickup truck westbound on Anderson Mill Road between U.S. 183 and RM 620 around 2 a.m. The driver hit the south curb line, then crossed both lanes of traffic and made contact with the north curb line before the truck left the roadway and struck a sound barrier retaining wall, police said.
The driver was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was pronounced dead shortly after the accident, Johnson said. The man’s name and age have not been released pending positive identification and notification of his relatives, according to police.
Johnson said investigators think alcohol might have been a factor in the accident. Anyone with more information about the incident is asked to call APD vehicular homicide detectives at 974-8543. Saturday’s accident is the 11th traffic fatality in Austin this year.
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March 15, 2009
Man killed in vehicle rollover
One person was killed and three persons were injured when the SUV in which they were riding overturned in the 1300 block of South I-35 early Sunday, police said.
The vehicle was northbound on the interstate at an unsafe speed, when the driver lost control and the SUV left the roadway shortly after 2 .m., according to the preliminary investigation report.
The vehicle traveled up an embankment and rolled over multiple times. Two of the four occupants of the vehicle were ejected.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the man was not released Sunday pending notification of next of kin.
The death is the 9th traffic fatality of 2009.
Austin-Travis County EMS transported three persons to University Medical Center at Brackenridge with non-life threatening injuries.
Police said alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Austin Police Department Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at 512-974-4724.
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February 14, 2009
Police investigate Texas 71 traffic fatality
Police are looking for drivers who fled the scene of a fatal traffic accident in the 3100 block of Texas 71 near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Friday night, an Austin police spokesman said Saturday.
Police spokesman Sgt. Richard Stresing said that a 55-year-old man was running across Texas 71 around 9 p.m. Friday. The man made it across three westbound lanes, but he was struck by a vehicle in the inside lane, then another in the center eastbound lane, Stresing said. Those two cars stopped, but the man was still in the road. Two other cars struck the man and left the scene, Stresing said.
The man, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is Austin’s fourth traffic fatality this year.
Witnesses told police that the two cars that left the scene were a van and a white sports utility vehicle, but Stresing said detectives were looking for more detailed information.
“We would like to be in contact with the drivers, since they might not know what they ran over,” Stresing said. He said that detectives do not anticipate filing charges against the two drivers that stopped.
Police ask that anyone with more information about the accident call detectives at 974-8266.
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February 5, 2009
Bastrop Woman Dies in Single Car Crash
A 20-year-old Bastrop woman died early today after she was ejected from the car she was riding in on FM 20 near Bar L Mesa Drive in Bastrop County,
Cori Ann Herschap was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle, Shaun Cook, 21, and the victim’s sister, Danielle Herschap, 22, both of Cedar Creek, were taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge with injuries, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
None of those in the car was wearing a seat belt, DPS officials said.
According to the DPS, Cook was driving a 1997 Pontiac sedan southbound on FM 20 at 12:48 a.m. today. Cook lost control of the car, tried twice to bring the car back into his lane and the car struck an embankment.
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December 31, 2008
DPS identifies three killed in Bastrop wreck
Authorities this morning have identified three people killed in a Bastrop County car crash Tuesday evening that also injured several others, including an 8-year-old boy.
Texas Department of Public Safety officials said a 2001 Lincoln driven by Kristin Guarino, 22, of College Station was travelling west on FM 535 about a mile west of FM 20 when Guarino left the road, overcorrected and crossed into the on-coming lane. A 2002 Dodge pickup driven by Kate Prather of Cedar Creek struck the Lincoln.
Authorities said that Guarino was pronounced dead at University Medical Center at Brackenridge. A passenger in the Lincoln, Joshua Reed, 23, of Smithville died at the scene. A third person, Jenni Schulte, 18, of Bastrop also died at the scene; A family member said Schulte was in the car Guarino was driving.
The crash also injured three people. Zachary Reed, 17, of Cedar Creek, who was a passenger in the Lincoln, was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge with head trauma, officials said. Prather also received internal injuries, while an 8-year-old in the Dodge received minor injuries, according to DPS officials.
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December 28, 2008
One dead in overnight I-35 wreck
An Austin man died when his Ford pickup left southbound Interstate 35 near Slaughter Lane and hit a tree, according to Austin police.
At about 2:30 a.m., the pickup flipped over in the grassy median between the frontage road and freeway, and the driver was ejected from the vehicle, said Austin police Sergeant Richard Stressing. There were no passengers in the truck.
The 44-year-old driver, Lawrence Salazar, was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge with life-threatening injuries and later pronounced dead.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
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December 22, 2008
Woman killed in motorcycle accident identified
Police have identified a 26-year-old woman who died early Sunday after she was thrown from a motorcycle and struck by a car on North Lamar Boulevard as Angela Lynn Watson.
Austin police said the motorcycle Watson was riding on as a passenger was rounding a curve on North Lamar just north of 25th Street near the northernmost section of Pease District Park when she was thrown from the motorcycle. The accident happened shortly before 2:30 a.m., police said.
The driver of the car that struck her, a Pontiac Vibe, has not been charged, according to police. The man driving the motorcycle, who has not been identified, was critically injured and taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge.
He has not been charged in connection with the accident, according to police spokesman Veneza Aguiñaga. Neither Watson nor the driver were wearing helmets at the time of the accident, Aguiñaga said.
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December 21, 2008
Woman dies after being thrown from motorcycle
A 26-year-old woman died early this morning on North Lamar Boulevard when she was thrown from a motorcycle and was struck by a car, according to Austin police.
The accident happened while the motorcycle was rounding a curve in the 2600 block of North Lamar, said Officer Veneza Aguinaga, a police spokeswoman. The 2600 block of North Lamar is just north of 25th Street near the northernmost section of Pease District Park.
Police have not identified the woman, who was a passenger on the motorcycle.
Aguinaza said officers must first positively identify her and notify her family.
The driver of the car that struck her, a Pontiac Vibe, has not been charged, she said.
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December 18, 2008
Killeen police investigate fatal accident
FROM THE KILLEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Killeen Police are investigating an accident that occurred in the 5900 block of E. Veteran’s Memorial Blvd. on Thursday, December 18, 2008 just before 7:00am.
Officers responded to Roy Reynolds and Veteran’s Memorial Blvd at 6:42am after a witness called 911 advising a vehicle had run off the road and landed in the ditch. Officers arrived to find a maroon 2007 Hyundai SUV upside in the ditch. The vehicle was occupied by a 62 year old female driver. The driver was removed from the vehicle and immediately transported to the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the Hyundai was traveling south on Roy Reynolds Dr. in the outside lane. A witness advised the southbound traffic signal was red, as he was waiting he saw the Hyundai go through the red light continuing through the intersection across all lanes of traffic and coming to a stop in the ditch on the south side of Veteran’s Memorial Blvd.
The driver, Karnakristine M. Counter, was pronounced deceased at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center by doctors at 10:47am, Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin pronounced her deceased at 11:25am. Ms. Counter was a 7th grade teacher at the Eastern Hills Middle School in Harker Heights.
This accident continues to be investigated and information will be provided as is becomes available.
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December 9, 2008
Man dies from injuries after weekend moped accident
A man died Monday after he was involved in the city’s 56th fatal traffic accident of the year.
On Saturday, at around 11:30 a.m., Charles Willis and his wife, riding a Schwinn Moped, were struck by another vehicle near the intersection of Sixth and Lavaca Streets.
The driver of the car, Omar Dominguez-Navarette, 22, fled the scene on foot but was followed by witnesses and arrested by police, officials said. He was charged with failure to stop and render aid and is being held on a $100,000 bond, and was being held without bond for immigration officials, according to jail records.
Police spokesman Sgt. Richard Stresing said that the couple was transported to the University Medical Center at Brackenridge.
Willis, 57, died Monday, police said. His wife was still at the hospital Tuesday.
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December 8, 2008
1 killed in morning wreck
One person was killed after a one-vehicle accident in the 13200 block of Maha Loop Road in Southeast Austin this morning, officials with the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services said.
The driver of the vehicle, a 30-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said he drove off the road and crashed into a tree. The driver’s identity has not yet been released.
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December 1, 2008
Man struck by pickup dies from injuries
A 69-year-old man who was critically injured last month in a wreck on North MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) died from his injuries this weekend, Austin police said.
Anthony Valentine was struck by a vehicle on Nov. 21 after he parked his Dodge pickup at the 45th Street exit ramp from MoPac.
A woman driving a Nissan XTerra was exiting the highway when she struck the Dodge, which then hit Valentine around 6:40 p.m., police said. The driver and Valentine were taken to the University Medical Center at Brackenridge.
The driver, whose name was not released, was treated and released. Valentine remained on life support until Saturday, police said.
Vehicular homicide detectives are investigating the incident.
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Woman dies in South Austin rollover accident
A 19-year-old woman died from her injuries after a traffic accident in South Austin this morning.
Austin police spokesman Richard Stresing said the woman, who had been driving eastbound in the 1500 block of Ben White Boulevard near the Gold’s Gym, lost control of the vehicle and left the roadway and crashed on the eastbound service road around 1:15 a.m.
Stresing said the 2002 Chevy Trailblazer the woman was driving rolled over and no other vehicles were involved in the accident.
Paramedics took the woman to the University Medical Center at Brackenridge, where she was pronounced dead at 3:03 a.m., Stresing said. Vehicular homicide detectives are investigating the accident.
Police say an initial investigation does not reveal that alcohol was a factor in the incident, but investigators are awaiting toxicology results.
Her name has not been released pending positive identification and notification of family members.
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November 30, 2008
Fayette County accident kills man
A 23-year-old man died early this morning after being hit by a car east of Schulenburg in Fayette County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
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Blake Edward Jaksa, of Weimar, was standing on the westbound shoulder of U.S. 90 when a Chevy pickup truck driven by Nicacio Paz Herrera, of Schulenburg, struck Jaksa at about a 1:30 a.m. Sunday, law enforcement officials said.
Jaksa died at the scene. Herrera, the driver, was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter and taken to the Fayette County jail, DPS officials said.
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November 26, 2008
Family of motorcyclist offers reward for hit-and-run driver
The family of a 25-year-old motorcyclist who died from his injuries after he was involved in a hit-and-run is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Jose Luis Dorantes, who police say left the scene of the accident.
Around 4 a.m. on Sept. 4, police were called to the scene of a crash in the 8400 block of Research Boulevard. Officials said they found Eric Laufer, who was wearing a helmet and full protective gear, dead on Research Boulevard. The motorcycle was found a mile away on the east frontage road of Research near Burnet Road.
Police said Laufer had been driving the motorcycle northbound on Research Boulevard when Dorantes, 21, who was driving a 1995 GMC Yukon, struck the motorcycle Laufer was riding on and left the scene.
Paramedics pronounced Laufer dead at the scene, officials said. His death was the city’s 38th traffic fatality.
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November 21, 2008
Police still investigating body in Lady Bird Lake
Austin police said today that they are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in Lady Bird Lake last week as “equivocal,” meaning they are exploring all options in how she may have died.
However, homicide Sgt. Joe Chacon said today that authorities have no evidence that Jill Walker Robinson was a victim of foul play — she had no trauma to her body — and are investigating the possibility that she may have died accidentally or from suicide.
“There is nothing to indicate that she died at the hands of another,” said Chacon, who would not discuss evidence officials collected at the scene.
Robinsons’ body was found a week ago today after a woman in a canoe saw what appeared to be a body face-down in the water and called police. The body was recovered that afternoon.
Chacon said detectives are awaiting their most crucial piece of evidence: results of a toxicology report, which would indicate whether Robinson had drugs or other substances in her system. Test results from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office could take several weeks.
“That’s going to be a big issue in our final determination,” Chacon said.
He said detectives also are still talking to friends and family members about Robinson, including matters such as her emotional state in recent weeks.
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November 17, 2008
1 killed in Hays County collision
A 26-year-old Wimberley man died from his injuries Monday when he disregarded a stop sign and struck a utility pole, Department of Public Safety officials said.
According to authorities, Luis Garcia was driving a 1992 Chevrolet Berretta northbound on FM 1966 around 12:36 a.m. Monday when officials say he disregarded a stop sign, traveled across east and westbound lanes of State Highway 21 and went into a bar ditch before the car he was in crashed.
Garcia died at the scene, officials said. Three other passengers in the car were injured and transported to the University Medical Center at Brackenridge. DPS officials said that one person had critical injuries, but two others were in stable condition Monday morning.
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November 10, 2008
10 people die in 10 collisions in Austin
Ten people died in Austin in collisions involving cars, motorcycles and pedestrians from Sept. 10 through Oct. 24, police said today. Four of the 10 fatalities were pedestrians and two were motorcyclists, police said. Only one of the fatalities involved alcohol, police said.
Investigators are still looking for a driver who hit and killed 47-year-old Raymond Cordova, police said. A construction worker found his body in the 900 block of West Cesar Chavez Street on Oct. 18, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 472-8477.
There have been 53 traffic fatalities in Austin this year compared with 60 traffic fatalities in 2007.
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November 6, 2008
Woman dies in Bee Caves wreck
A woman died Wednesday afternoon after the car she was riding in collided with an 18-wheeler in Bee Caves, police said.
About 4:30 p.m., Allen Childs, 67, of Austin, was making a left turn from westbound Texas 71, at the intersection with Ranch Road 620, when the eastbound truck driven by John Gross, 63 of Austin, hit the vehicle, Bee Caves Police Detective Ken Sidenblad said.
A passenger in the car, Brenda Childs, 66, of Austin, died at the scene, Sidenblad said. Allen Childs was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was in fair condition Thursday, a hospital official said.
Gross was not seriously injured, Sidenblad said.
Sidenblad said the incident is being investigated by police and the Department of Public Safety.
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November 4, 2008
Motorcyclist dies after downtown wreck
UPDATE: Austin Police have identified the motorcyclist involved in the collision as 35-year-old Joel Ethan Smith. Police said that Smith was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
A motorcyclist died this evening after he ran into a pedestrian and lost control of his bike while making a turn in downtown Austin, police said.
Just before 6:40 p.m., the man, whose name was not released, was traveling west on Barton Springs Road when he turned into the southbound lanes of South First Street and collided with the pedestrian, police Lt. Cedric Hudson said. The driver lost control and slid under a vehicle in a parking lot, Hudson said.
The motorcyclist was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was pronounced dead, Hudson said.
The pedestrian was also taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, Hudson said.
It was unclear tonight whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet.
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Police ID victim in weekend U.S. 290 accident
A 27-year-old woman who died from her injuries after she was struck by a pick-up truck Saturday night on U.S. 290 has been identified by police as Julia Hodgkins.
Austin police said this morning that Hodgkins had an argument with her boyfriend in a Quix convenience store at 9704 Giles Lane in Northeast Austin around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
During the argument, Hodgkins ran out of the store parking lot into the roadway and was struck by a truck traveling westbound in the 9500 block of U.S. 290, officials said.
Police said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The pick-up driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police said. Officials don’t anticipate charging the driver in connection with the fatality, according to police.
Hodgkin’s death is still under investigation as the city’s 52nd traffic fatality in 2008. Police ask that anyone who may have information about the accident call vehicular 974-8543.
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November 3, 2008
Man dies in wreck just south of Austin
A man died this morning when his vehicle rolled over south of Austin, a Department of Public Safety official said.
About 6:40 a.m., Shane L. DeLeon, 26 of Buda, was traveling east on Turnersville Road, near Palmer Road, when he lost control of the vehicle and it rolled several times, DPS communications supervisor Gary Gilbert said.
DeLeon, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene, Gilbert said.
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October 29, 2008
Del Valle man charged in connection with fatal hit and run
Police have charged a Del Valle man in connection with Austin’s 51st traffic fatality of the year.
Francisco Guzman-Cancin, 23, has been charged with failure to stop and render aid, a third-degree felony. He could face up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted.
According to police, Guzman-Cancin drove a white 2002 Chevrolet Impala through a red light at the intersection of Seventh Street and Springdale Road on Sunday about 3:36 a.m.
An arrest warrant affidavit says Guzman-Cancin struck a gray 1996 Sentra that Amado Hernandez-Barrios, 44, was riding in, then jumped out of the Impala and fled the scene on foot. Police found Guzman-Cancin after he left his wallet in the Impala, the affidavit said.
Hernandez-Barrios died from his injuries at the University Medical Center at Brackenridge.
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October 27, 2008
Police identify motorcyclist killed Friday
A 41-year-old man who died following a motorcycle accident Friday afternoon has been identified as Phillip Parker. His death is being investigated as Austin’s 50th traffic fatality in 2008.
Police said Parker had been traveling westbound on FM 969 when his motorcycle struck a Buick sedan that was exiting a private driveway. Parker was was ejected from the motorcycle and later died from his injuries.
Officials ask that anyone with more information about the incident call APD vehicular homicide detectives at 974-8164.
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Victim in Seventh Street crash identified
A 44-year-old man who died from his injuries after a collision on Seventh Street at Springdale Road has been identified as Amado Hernandez-Barrios.
Police said a four-door white Chevrolet Impala ran a red light at 3:36 a.m. Sunday, striking the silver Nissan Sentra Hernandez-Barrios was driving.
Hernandez-Barrios was critically injured and taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The incident is being investigated as Austin’s 51st traffic fatality this year.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at 974-8212.
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Fatal train collision kills driver
An Amtrak train struck and killed a 37-year-old Taylor man Sunday on tracks along Texas 79 between Hutto and Taylor.
The train, running five miles south of Taylor from El Paso to Chicago, struck a 2007 Dodge pickup truck on the tracks about 6:58 p.m., according to Texas Department of Public Safety officials. Authorities said the accident happened about two miles east of County Road 136.
The pickup driver, Charles Nygrin, was pronounced dead at the scene, a dispatcher said.
Officials said that Nygrin was northbound on a private road as the Amtrak train was traveling westbound when the train pushed the pickup truck into a signal house on the south side of the railroad tracks.
A San Marcos man was killed earlier this month when he did not move from the railroad tracks as a Union Pacific train approached, according to train personnel.
David Perez, 43, of died Oct. 7 at Central Texas Medical Center. Perez had been lying on the tracks on a railroad bridge over the San Marcos River near Children’s Park.
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October 26, 2008
Man killed in two-car accident
A 44-year-old man is dead after an early morning automobile accident Sunday at the intersection of 7th Street and Springdale Road in East Austin.
Police said the accident occurred when a white Chevy Impala ran a red light and struck a silver Nissan Sentra around 3:30 a.m.
According to police, passengers from both vehicles fled the scene on foot. According to responders, the man who died was riding in the Sentra. He was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge with life threatening injuries. He was later pronounced dead.
Police said it is the 51st traffic fatality of 2008 and are asking anyone with information to call 974-8212.
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Man killed in two-car accident
From the Austin Police Department:
On Sunday, October 26, 2008, Austin Police Central East Area Command patrol officers responded to a traffic fatality crash on 7th Street at Springdale Road.
It is believed, a white Chevrolet Impala four door ran the red light at 7th Street and Springdale Road. A silver Nissan Sentra was struck by the Impala at the intersection and several passengers from both vehicles fled the scene on foot. A Hispanic male passenger of the Nissan sustained life-threatening injuries. Austin-Travis County EMS responded and the Hispanic male was pronounced deceased at Brackenridge Hospital.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at 974-8212.
This case remains under investigation by APD Vehicular Homicide detectives. This is the 51st traffic fatality of 2008.
TRAFFIC FATALITY #51
Case: 08-3000553
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008
Time: 3:36 a.m.
Location: 7th Street at Springdale Road
Deceased: Hispanic male, 44 years of age
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October 24, 2008
Victim in traffic death identified
A man killed in a hit-and-run on the side of Interstate 35 earlier this month has been identified as Sixto Conde, 35. Officials did not immediately know where Conde was from.
According to police, witnesses said a small, white car cut in front of a truck traveling north on the highway about 10:30 a.m. Oct. 11. The truck swerved to avoid the car and hit a trailer attached to a one-ton truck parked on the shoulder of the highway, where Condo and another man were trying to fix it. The first truck’s fuel tanks ignited.
The car involved in the wreck left the scene, according to police.
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Motorcycle driver dies in crash in East Austin
A 40-year-old male died this afternoon when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a Buick. He was not wearing a helmet.
Austin Police Department officials would not release the man’s name.
Police say the man was driving west on FM 969 when the motorcycle collided with a brown four-door Buick that had pulled out of a private drive and was crossing FM 969 to get to Regency Drive.
The driver of the Buick was not injured. The motorcycle driver died on the scene. He was the 50th person this year to die in a traffic accident in Austin.
The accident is still under investigation, officials say.
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Traffic death in Bastrop County
An Elgin man died in an early morning traffic accident today in Bastrop County, according to Department of Public Safety officials.
Efren Martinez, 18, was driving north on Roy Davis Road in a Kia van when he lost control, causing the vehicle to overturn. Passenger Abraham Hernandez, 26, was ejected from the vehicle and died. Hernandez was not wearing a seatbelt, officials say.
Martinez was taken to University Medical Center-Brackenridge, where he was treated and then released. Police said the accident is under investigation.
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October 21, 2008
Woman dies after injuries from a car accident in early October
A New Braunfels woman has died from her injuries after she was involved in a collision in Hays County in early October.
Department of Public Safety officials said Nichole Diane Johnston, 51, had been driving southbound on Interstate 35 when the 2004 Chevrolet two-door car she was driving stopped or was stopping just south of Overpass Road in Hays County at around 11:43 p.m. on Oct. 8.
Authorities said that another car, a 1997 Ford four-door car, rear-ended her. Johnston was not wearing a seatbelt, officials said.
Johnston was taken to the University Medical Center at Brackenridge hospital where she died from her injuries on October 17, at 6:05 p.m., officials said. The other driver was not injured.
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October 12, 2008
Body found in Bastrop County part of Colorado River
A body was found floating in the Colorado River in Bastrop County Saturday.
The body was reported to the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office around 9:30 a.m., according to a written statement from the sheriff’s office. It was found floating in the river near FM 969.
The unidentified body was taken to the Travis County Medical Examiner for an autopsy, officials said. The death is considered suspicious.
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October 10, 2008
Woman dies in Southeast Austin wreck
A 35-year-old woman died Thursday evening after a crash on East Slaughter Lane, according to the Austin Police Department.
Around 8 p.m., a black Mazda was traveling east in the 300 block of East Slaughter Lane when it crossed over the median and struck a silver Honda, police said. The front passenger of the Mazda, Corina Vargas, 35, was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where she later died, police said.
Anyone with information about this wreck is asked to call the Austin Police Department at 974-6981. This was the 46th traffic fatality of 2008.
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October 8, 2008
San Marcos man killed by train
San Marcos police are reporting that a man was killed last night when a Union Pacific freight train hit him near Children’s Park in San Marcos.
David Perez, 43, was lying on the tracks on a railroad bridge over the San Marcos River, according to train personnel. Perez did not move as the train approached, according to reports.
Perez died at Central Texas Medical Center. Union Pacific is investigating the death.
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October 1, 2008
San Marcos police investigate fatal motorcycle accident
San Marcos police are investigating a Tuesday night motorcycle wreck that left a 28-year-old man dead.
Investigators say John Raymond Cardenas was riding a 2000 Harley Davidson motorcycle south on the west access road in the 1900 block of Interstate 35 near Texas Avenue when his motorcycle struck the back of a trailer being pulled by another vehicle.
The accident was reported around 11:47 p.m. Cardenas was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, and the accident is under investigation.
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Police investigate fatal overnight accident in Southeast Austin
Police are investigating the death of a man investigators believe to be in his 30s who was struck by at least one vehicle Tuesday night, police spokesman Lt. Dana Brockington said.
A driver traveling eastbound in the 1900 block of East William Cannon Drive saw the man’s body in the road and tried to swerve to avoid it at around 11:27 p.m., Brockington said. The driver stopped and called police. Brockington said it was unclear whether the man had passed out in the road or had been struck by another vehicle.
The pedestrian was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was pronounced dead at 1:48 a.m., Brockington said. His name was not released pending positive identification and notification of family members.
Officials ask that anyone who may have more information about the incident call Vehicular Homicide detectives at 974-5744.
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September 29, 2008
Bicyclist struck by car on Craigwood Drive ID'd
A 32-year-old bicyclist who died Sunday after he was struck by a car near the intersection of Craigwood Drive and FM 969 in East Austin was identified by police Monday as Christopher Davis, police said.
The incident occurred at about 4 a.m. Sunday, and the car’s driver stopped at the scene. Police said it is unclear if the driver will be charged.
The incident is Austin’s 43rd fatal traffic accident in 2008.
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September 23, 2008
Police seek help in bicyclist's death
The Williamson County sheriff’s office and the Texas Department of Public Safety are seeking the public’s help in finding the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a Williamson County bicyclist Monday night.
A deputy with the sheriff’s office responded to a “man down” call around 11:50 p.m. on FM 3405 and Young Ranch Road and found the body of 55-year-old Bobby Wierzowiecki, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.
Authorities said the vehicle struck Wierzowiecki and fled the scene. An autopsy completed today showed that the bicyclist died from his injuries in the collision, officials said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the DPS at 512-506-2800.
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September 21, 2008
Pedestrian struck, killed by 18-wheeler
Austin police are investigating the death of a pedestrian who was struck this morning by an 18-wheel tractor-trailer in the southbound lanes of Interstate 35.
The man died after being hit at about 4:15 a.m. in the 1900 block of the interstate, near the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard overpass, said Austin police Lt. J. Hines.
Hines said the man had no identification and has not been identified.
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September 17, 2008
Police identify man who died in motorcycle wreck
Austin police have identified a motorcyclist who died late Tuesday night in Southwest Austin.
About 10:40 p.m., Mark “Dharana” Jones, 49, was traveling east in the 2300 block of Shiloh Drive at a high speed when he struck a parked sport utility vehicle in a curve, police said.
Jones, who was wearing a helmet, died at the scene, police said.
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1 killed in overnight motorcycle accident
A man believed to be in his 40s died last night after the motorcycle he was riding struck the back of a parked vehicle in Southwest Austin, Lt. Dana Brockington, a police spokesman, said.
Officials received a call about the accident at 10:40 p.m., he said. It happened in the 2300 block of Shiloh Drive.
Brockington said the motorcyclist was pronounced dead in the scene. The man is not being identified pending notification of his family members and positive identification, police said.
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September 16, 2008
Man dies in New Braunfels motorcycle wreck
A man died Monday afternoon after the motorcycle he was driving crashed into a pickup in New Braunfels, a Department of Public Safety official said.
About 4:35 p.m., Norman Edward Smolka Jr., 42 of New Braunfels, was traveling south on Wegner Road, east of Canyon Lake, when he lost control during a curve, went into oncoming traffic and collided with the northbound pickup driven by Jane Fuhrmann, of New Braunfels, the official said.
Smolka, who was not wearing a helmet, was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was pronounced dead.
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September 15, 2008
Hays County officials investigate apparent drowning
The Hays County sheriff’s office is investigating the apparent drowning death of a Kyle man Sunday afternoon.
Authorities received a call of a possible drowning at Five Mile Dam located at 4444 S. Old Stagecoach Road just south of Kyle around 4 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters located a man in about 8 feet of water, Leroy Opiela, a sheriff’s office spokesman said.
The man was identified today as 27-year-old Juan Humberto Lopez Beltran. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to witnesses, Beltran had been canoeing and was in a large pool of water. He got out of the canoe to walk to shore when he apparently stepped off into deeper water, Opiela said. Although he began yelling for help, he went under before he could be found in the water, Opiela said.
His body has been taken to the Travis County medical examiner’s office. Opiela said that the incident is under investigation.
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September 10, 2008
Recycling crew member receives fatal injuries
Recycling crew member receives fatal injuries A City of Austin Solid Waste Services recycling crew member died today from injuries sustained when hit by a recycling truck while performing his duties earlier in the day. Jonathon Guyton, 36, of Austin was injured at approximately noon while collecting recycling on a Northwest Austin route in the 1200 block of Knoll Park Circle. He died this afternoon at a local hospital.
Guyton, the driver, exited the truck and walked to the front of the vehicle to pick up a can. The truck rolled forward, according to police, knocking the victim down and causing serious injury. Guyton was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge by Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.
“Today, the City of Austin grieves at the unfortunate death of one of our family,” said City Manager Marc Ott. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as well as his crew members and co-workers.”
Guyton, a SWS Operator in Recycling, worked for the City for two years. Counseling will be available for SWS employees.
The incident is being investigated by the Austin Police Department and the SWS Safety Division. The death is the 40th traffic fatality in Austin in 2008.
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September 8, 2008
1 killed in overnight accident
A man in his 50s was killed when the car he was driving struck an electrical pole in the 4300 block of Airport Boulevard near Wilshire, police spokesman Lt. Dana Brockington said.
Brockington said the man was headed north on Airport Boulevard around 2 a.m. when he struck another vehicle then crashed into the pole.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released.
The vehicle he struck returned to the scene, Brockington said. The accident is being investigated as the city’s 39th traffic fatality in Austin this year.
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September 4, 2008
Police investigate fatal motorcycle crash
Austin police are investigating a fatal motorcycle accident that shut down parts of U.S. 183 this morning in the 8400 block of Research Boulevard.
Police said that officials received a call about the accident at 4:18 a.m.
The motorcyclist, whom police identified as 27-year-old Eric Laufer, was found on the upper deck of U.S. 183 near North Lamar Blvd. Investigators think that Laufer was driving northbound on Research Boulevard when another vehicle struck his motorcycle and fled the scene.
Laufer was found on Research Boulevard when officials arrived and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he had been wearing a helmet and full protective gear at the time of the accident.
The motorcycle was found about a mile away on the east frontage road. Officials later found a blue GMC pickup they believe may have struck the motorcyclist, according to Lisa Cortinas, a police spokeswoman. Investigators are looking for its driver.
Northbound U.S. 183 was closed for a few hours while police investigated the accident but the road re-opened at 7:30 a.m.
Police ask that anyone with more information about the incident call vehicular homicide detectives at 974-4724. This accident is the city’s 38th traffic fatality in 2008.
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August 28, 2008
Austin man killed in San Marcos wreck
From the City of San Marcos:
A 21-year old Austin man was killed late Wednesday, August 27, in a three-vehicle wreck on I-35 involving two motorcycles and an automobile.
Zachary Glenn Wilcox (DOB 05-06-1987) was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Margie Hernandez following the 10:21 p.m. collision near the 208 mile marker on northbound I-35. She has ordered an autopsy.
According to the preliminary investigation, Wilcox was driving a 2008 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle in a group of motorcycle riders when he apparently rear-ended a Nissan Pathfinder driven by Martin Palma, age 43, of Dallas.
A second motorcycle driven by Ricardo Ortega, age 24, of Buda collided with the driver’s side door of the Pathfinder. The car went out of control and struck concrete barriers, rolled over and came to rest in the center of the interstate.
Ortega was taken to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin while Palma was taken to Central Texas Medical Center for treatment of injuries.
San Marcos Police continue their investigation into the fatality.
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Motorcyclist killed in San Marcos accident
FROM THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS:
A 21-year old Austin man was killed late Wednesday, August 27, in a three-vehicle wreck on I-35 involving two motorcycles and an automobile.
Zachary Glenn Wilcox (DOB 05-06-1987) was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Margie Hernandez following the 10:21 p.m. collision near the 208 mile marker on northbound I-35. She has ordered an autopsy.
According to the preliminary investigation, Wilcox was driving a 2008 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle in a group of motorcycle riders when he apparently rear-ended a Nissan Pathfinder driven by Martin Palma, age 43, of Dallas.
A second motorcycle driven by Ricardo Ortega, age 24, of Buda collided with the driver’s side door of the Pathfinder. The car went out of control and struck concrete barriers, rolled over and came to rest in the center of the interstate.
Ortega was taken to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin while Palma was taken to Central Texas Medical Center for treatment of injuries.
San Marcos Police continue their investigation into the fatality.
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August 23, 2008
Street racing kills girl, injures six others
A 15-year-old Austin girl died and six others were injured after their truck crashed while racing another vehicle early Saturday in southern Travis County, the Department of Public Safety said.
Emergency crews, including five ambulances, arrived at the accident scene on FM 812 shortly after 2 a.m. to find Brenda Salazar dead. The other six occupants of the truck, ages 11 to 19, were treated at Austin hospitals for injuries ranging from scrapes to broken bones.
The driver of the truck, Jose Rodriguez, 19, was charged with racing on the highway causing death, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and was being held in the Travis County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond.
Rodriguez, of Austin, also was charged with failure to identify, a Class C misdemeanor, because he gave officers a false name, according to an arrest affidavit.
According to DPS, Rodriguez was racing a 2002 Ford Explorer pickup truck westbound on FM 812 toward U.S. 183 when the vehicle entered the opposite lane of traffic and struck a ditch. None of the truck’s occupants were wearing seat belts, DPS said, though nobody was ejected from the Explorer.
The other vehicle, which left the scene, was identified only as a red Honda. DPS troopers are investigating.
Rodriguez, the driver, was treated for abrasions at University Medical Center at Brackenridge.
Passenger Brandon Guzman, 16, of Austin, also was taken to Brackenridge with a fractured skull and wrist.
Karina Guajardo-Gutierrez, 13, of Austin, was taken to Dell Children’s Medical Center and was in stable condition with bruises.
Luis Torres-Moreno, 13, of Austin, also was taken to Dell. He was in stable condition with minor scrapes and bruises.
Diego Salazar, 11, of Austin, was taken to Dell and was in stable condition with broken bones.
Jose Gutierrez-Guajardo, 11, of Austin, was taken to Dell and suffered minor scratches and abrasions.
DPS could not say whether the passengers were related.
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August 19, 2008
Bastrop officials investigating fatal accident
A Bastrop County dispatcher has confirmed that one person has died after an 18-wheeler and a car collided this morning.
Investigators have shut down both eastbound and westbound lanes of traffic on Texas71 at Perkins Street in the city of Bastrop while the accident is cleaned up.
No other details were immediately available.
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August 18, 2008
Victim in Friday traffic accident ID'd
A 43-year-old man who died in a fatal wreck on Ben White Boulevard Friday afternoon has been identified as Jose Angel Cancino, Jr.
Cancino was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV east on the Ben White frontage road around 3:20 p.m. when it veered onto the highway and hit a Dodge Neon, police said.
Both cars crashed into a retaining wall, according to authorities, and Cancino was ejected from the Tahoe. Police say he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The Neon driver suffered minor injuries.
Investigators do not know why the Tahoe veered onto the highway; the accident remains under investigation. Cancino’s death is the city’s 36th traffic fatality this year.
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August 15, 2008
Man dies in wreck on Ben White Blvd
Traffic has been backed up for several hours on Ben White Boulevard this afternoon following a fatal wreck.
Austin Police Department spokesman Det. James Mason said a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV was traveling east on the Ben White frontage road around 3:20 p.m. when it veered onto the highway and hit a Dodge Neon. Both cars crashed into a guardrail, Mason said
The Tahoe driver, a Hispanic man in his 40s, was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Mason said. The Neon driver suffered minor injuries. Investigators do not know why the Tahoe veered onto the highway.
Mason said police could have the wreck cleared off the road in the next half-hour.
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August 13, 2008
Man killed in motorcycle accident identified
A 23-year-old man found dead in the 8900 block of Wildridge Drive just before 1 a.m. today has been identified by police as Roy Waters. His death is being investigated as the 35th traffic fatality in Austin this year.
Investigators say Waters was driving a 2001 Honda motorcycle southbound on Wildridge Drive when he struck a curb. The Honda then struck a tree and Waters was ejected from the motorcycle, according to officials. When Waters was ejected, he struck a telephone pole, police said.
Waters was not wearing a helmet, police said, and he did not have a license to operate the vehicle. A passerby saw the man along the side of the road and called 911, police said.
He was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was pronounced dead at 2:45 a.m. Vehicular Homicide detectives ask anyone with information about the incident to call 974-6981.
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August 6, 2008
Woman killed in wreck on FM 2244
One person was killed and another critically injured in a multi-vehicle wreck in western Travis County around 7 a.m. Wednesday, official said.
Hortencia Vences-Porcayo, 23, of Austin, was killed when her westbound 2002 Nissan four-door vehicle crossed over into an eastbound lane of FM 2244 at Grace Lane and struck a 2007 Ford pickup, said Tom Vinger, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. The driver of the pickup, Robert Saldana, 44, from Spicewood, was listed in critical condition at University Medical Center at Brackenridge, Vinger said.
He said that rainy conditions may have been a factor in the crash.
A third vehicle struck the back of the pickup, but the driver was not injured, Vinger said. In addition, two separate wrecks took place near the scene immediately before and after the fatal collision, but were not involved in that accident, he said. In all, eight vehicles were involved in the three collisions.
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August 5, 2008
Texas Guardsman killed in action
Texas Guardsman killed in action CAMP MABRY, Texas (Aug 5. 2008) - Sgt. Jaime Gonzalez, (age 40), from Austin, Texas, died Aug 3, 2008 while conducting duties as part of a security team. Fatal injuries were sustained when his convoy encountered an Improvised Explosive Device in the vicinity of Kabul, Afghanistan. He is the fifth combat fatality in the Texas Army National Guard since World War II.
Sergeant Gonzalez entered military service as a sailor in the United States Navy on November 20, 1989. He served 6 years in the Navy and went to the Navy Reserves on September 20, 1995 where he served an additional 2 years. Sergeant Gonzalez joined the Texas Army National Guard on November 10, 2006 as a Private First Class. He was promoted to Specialist on May 10, 2007 and posthumously promoted to Sergeant on August 3, 2008.
Sergeant Gonzalez was ordered to active duty on November 26, 2007, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and mobilized with his unit, the 436th Chemical Company, based in Laredo, Texas. The unit spent more than two months at Ft Bragg, North Carolina, conducting training in preparation for its overseas mission. Its assigned mission was to provide Security Forces for Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan. Sergeant Gonzalez’s death is the first to occur amongst the members of this unit which continues to serve in theater.
Sergeant Gonzalez is survived by his wife, children, brother, and parents.
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Fire officials investigate fatal Oak Hill crash
The Austin Fire Department is investigating an accident that ended in a car fire that may have killed a man in his 70s on Monday, spokeswoman Michelle DeCrane said this morning.
Fire officials are investigating the incident as a fire fatality, she said, because officials do not believe he died as a result of the traffic crash. The Travis County medical examiner’s office has not released a cause of death for the man and his name has not been released.
Police spokesman Sgt. Richard Stresing said that around 3:18 p.m. Monday, police received several reports of a minivan that had gone off the road in the 6300 block of Mountain Shadows Drive near Old Bee Cave Road.
The driver of the minivan reportedly “had several minor crashes with cars” as he drove westbound in the eastbound lanes of Texas 71, Stresing said. He said witnesses saw the van go off the road and try to back up his minivan. The man was revving the engine for several minutes before witnesses told police there was a loud pop and the engine caught fire, Stresing said. He said the driver tried to exit the vehicle but collapsed next to the driver’s door.
Stresing said officers found the minivan located in a field at the dead end of Mountain Shadows Drive. He said the driver was “burned beyond recognition after the car collided with a tree.” There were no other occupants in the car at the time.
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August 2, 2008
Wreck near Liberty Hill kills three
Three people were killed Saturday in a car accident near Liberty Hill, according to officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The wreck occurred on northbound U.S. 183 at the intersection of FM 3405, officials said. The wreck was reported around 12:52 p.m.
Information on how the wreck occurred and how many vehicles were involved was not immediately available.
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August 1, 2008
4-year-old drowning victim identified
The Travis County sheriff’s office has identified a 4-year-old boy who apparently drowned in the swimming pool of an apartment complex Thursday as Xander Charles Drayton.
Roger Wade, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said that emergency medical workers were called to the Retreat at Wells Branch apartments at 2:49 p.m. by a neighbor who said there was a possible drowning.
EMS workers instructed a witness over the phone how to perform CPR, but when emergency personnel arrived the boy was pronounced dead at 3:16 p.m. Wade said.
Wade said the boy was visiting relatives at the complex at 2801 Wells Branch Parkway.
According to Wade, there had been a miscommunication between adults at the pool that led to Drayton being allowed to enter the pool unnoticed. Investigators said there is no way to know how long the boy had been underwater before he was found because no one saw Drayton enter the pool.
The Travis County medical examiners office has preliminarily ruled his cause of death as accidental fresh water drowning. No charges are expected in the case, Wade said.
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July 31, 2008
Teen killed in auto-pedestrian accident
Department of Public Safety officials say a 15-year-old Dripping Springs student was struck and killed in Hays County last night at around 9 p.m.
Tom Vinger, a DPS spokesman, said that a teenager was riding a bicycle towing a wagon along the road near the intersection of Nutty Brown and Signal Hill when Ronald Lair, 62, of Austin, struck 15-year-old Joshua Carroll Gregg, who was riding in the wagon, Vinger said.
The boy on the bike saw the car coming, threw himself from the bike and had minor injuries, Vinger said. His name was not released.
Lair, who was driving a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix, was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated, Vinger said. He was taken to Hays County Jail. It was not immediately known whether he was still in custody.
Gregg was taken to Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, where he died from his injuries at 3:40 a.m. As a result of Gregg’s death, Vinger said, “We anticipate upgrading the charge to intoxication manslaughter.”
Greg Jung, assistant superintendent with Dripping Springs Independent School District said that Gregg had been a student at Dripping Springs Middle School and was scheduled to start attending high school there in August. School officials sent out a letter to parents in the district saying that counselors will be available in the community in coming weeks as needed.
Superintendent Mark Herrick released a statement notifying parents and community members of Gregg’s death. He said counselors will be available for students and staff in the coming weeks.
“We are saddened to inform you of the death of one of our students, Joshua Carroll Gregg,” the statement said. “On behalf of the entire Dripping Springs I.S.D. family, I wish to express our deepest sympathy to Joshua’s family and friends.”
The accident is under investigation.
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July 23, 2008
1 killed in early morning auto-pedestrian accident
Austin police say a woman died from her injuries this morning at around 1:30 a.m. when a taxi struck her near the intersection of U.S. 183 and Martin Luther King Boulevard in East Austin.
The taxi driver was driving north in the 4200 block of Ed Bluestein Boulevard and went to exit to get onto MLK and go into the exit lane, Sgt. Richard Stresing, a police spokesman said. The woman was walking in roadway and the taxi driver struck her.
The taxi driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with police, Stresing said. No charges are expected to be filed. This is the 31st traffic fatality in Austin this year.
The woman’s name has not been released.
Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact the the vehicular homicide unit at 974-4761.
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July 21, 2008
Man dies in San Marcos accident
One man died in an accident Sunday and his passenger was seriously injured when their vehicle hit a tree off Hunter Road.
Mark Villarreal, 29, was driving and was pronounced dead on the scene.
Passenger, Derek Arredondo, 20, was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge, where he was listed in good condition Monday.
San Marcos police are investigating how the accident happened, and an autopsy has been ordered.
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DPS: Driver in fatal Bastrop crash had drugs in system
The Department of Public Safety has released new details in a crash that killed a Bastrop man, a woman and two of her three daughters in April.
Cara Crisler, 27, of Cedar Park, died April 30 after she and her family were involved in a head-on collision with a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 38-year-old Darrell Avery. Officials said Avery was driving a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee north on Texas 304 and Crisler was driving south in a 2008 Ford Excursion. The Jeep crossed into the southbound lane and struck the Ford head-on around 6:45 p.m. on April 29, officials said.
According to a crash report released Friday by DPS, Avery had cannabis and a narcotic analgesic in his system at the time of the crash. Though the report does not say what type of narcotic was detected in Avery’s blood, types of drugs known as narcotic analgesics are pain relievers such as Vicodin.
Eight-year-old Kelsey Nicole Harris died at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin shortly after the wreck, Vinger said. Talena Harris, 4, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Avery also died in the crash. DPS investigators said he had been driving on the wrong side of the road in a no passing zone. Avery was a Bastrop resident but his driver’s license showed his most recent address as being in Arkansas, DPS spokesman Tom Vinger has said.
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July 20, 2008
Motorcyclist killed in Wimberley accident ID'd
A 58-year-old Wimberley motorcyclist who died Sunday after hitting a bicyclist has been identified as Ernest Hubert Kirchner.
Kirchner and Evan Carl Kaye, 20, who was on a bicycle, collided at 8:45 a.m. at the intersection of Old Oaks Ranch Road and Brunson Lane, according to DPS.
Kaye was making a wide right turn onto Brunson when Kirchner hit him, according to DPS. Kirchner was thrown, without a helmet, and struck his head. Kaye was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge in serious condition, officials said.
Ernest Hubert Kirchner
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July 17, 2008
Motorcyclist and pedestrian killed in traffic accidents ID'd
A 58-year-old pedestrian who died after she was struck by a car in North Austin and a motorcyclist who died from his injuries after he slid under an 18-wheeler were both identified this morning by police.
Linda O’Bryan, 58, was fatally struck by a vehicle Tuesday as she walked in a bicycle lane in the 3700 block of Steck Avenue near Summer Side Drive, police spokeswoman Veneza Aguiñaga said.
Aguiñaga said police received a call at 10:24 p.m. when someone found the woman’s body in the road. Police did not have a description of the vehicle Thursday or a suspect in the incident.
The 25-year-old motorcyclist who died from his injuries Wednesday after lost control of his motorcycle and slid under an 18-wheeler was identified this morning as James Holmes Turner, Jr.
Turner was pronounced dead at around 2:26 p.m. Wednesday after he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving, let go of it and slid underneath an 18-wheeler that was turning left from the Interstate 35 frontage road onto Howard Lane, police spokesman Veneza Aguiñaga said.
Turner was wearing a helmet at the time of the wreck. No charges are expected to be filed, Aguiñaga said.
Their deaths were the city’s 29th and 30th traffic fatalities this year.
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July 16, 2008
Overnight hit-and-run fatality in North Austin
A woman police believe to be in her 50s was fatally struck by a vehicle as she walked in a bicycle lane on Steck Avenue near Summer Side Drive, according to police spokeswoman Veneza Aguiñaga.
Aguiñaga said police received a call at around 10:24 p.m. last night when someone found the woman’s body in the road.
Police did not have a description of the vehicle this morning and had few other details about the incident.
The woman’s name has not been released pending identification and notification of her family members. Aguiñaga said police believe the woman lived and worked in the area. Her death is the city’s 29th traffic fatality.
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July 9, 2008
Llano student dies in Texas 71 rollover
A Llano High School student died in a rollover wreck on Texas 71 Tuesday night, Department of Public Safety dispatcher Allen Muller said.
Three other teens were injured in the wreck about nine miles east of Llano at about 10 p.m., Muller said.
Corey Wunderlich was driving a 2001 Ford pickup truck east on Texas 71 when the truck went off the right side of the road, Muller said. Wunderlich overcorrected and veered across both lanes of the highway, Muller said. The truck went into a ditch, where it struck and climbed an enbankment. After descending the embankment, the truck rolled back across both lanes of traffic.
Muller said the truck came to rest upright in another ditch.
Cassie Mae Zavadil, 16, was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:38 p.m. Muller said she was not wearing a seatbelt. Wunderlich was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenrige hospital, where he was treated and released.
Two passengers in the truck were hospitalized. As of Wednesday afternoon, David Justin Logan, 17, of Llano was in critical condition at University Medical Center at Brackenridge hospital. Terry William Inman, 16, also of Llano, was taken to Llano Memorial Hospital. His condition was not immediately known. Muller said it was unclear whether Logan or Inman were wearing seatbelts.
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Austin teen killed in four-vehicle accident
Investigators say 19-year-old Kenneth Sweeney Jr. died from his injuries after the pickup truck he was driving struck at least three other vehicles on FM 812 in South Travis County Tuesday.
The accident happened just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, a dispatcher with the Department of Public Safety said, just east of Maha Loop Road. The 2000 Chevrolet pickup Sweeney was driving and a 2003 Dodge pickup truck were going westbound on FM 812, officials said, as a 2004 Toyota pickup truck towing a homemade trailer and a 1993 Nissan were driving eastbound on FM 812.
Sweeney struck the back of the Dodge pickup, a dispatcher said, and then crossed over into the eastbound lane and struck the Toyota and the Nissan. DPS officials said rainy conditions at the time of the accident may have been a factor.
The Toyota and Nissan drivers, Del Valle residents Charles Johnson, 51, and Raul Rendon, 23, were not badly injured, according to DPS.
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July 6, 2008
Man drowns at Lake Travis
A man drowned in Lake Travis last night after diving into the water to try to untwist a boat anchor, authorities said.
The man was found in Devil’s Hollow at about 9 a.m. this morning, said Major Mark Sawa of the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.
The man was known to be a good swimmer, but did not surface after diving into about 50 feet of water to try to untwist the anchor, Sawa said.
Other people were on the boat at the time. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the incident, Sawa said.
Police have not released the man’s name.
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June 25, 2008
San Marcos accident victim identified
From the City of San Marcos:
“San Marcos Police have identified a 45-year old San Marcos man killed in a traffic wreck Tuesday as Antonio Martinez, of 103 Teron Drive, San Marcos. (DOB 3-05-1963)
His name was withheld until his surviving family members in El Salvador could be notified.
Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the intersection of Highway 123 and County Road 266.
According to police, a 2002 Ford SUV driving westbound on Highway 123 by Mathew Espinoza, age 17, of Kyle, collided with the victim’s 1999 Honda Civic traveling southbound on Old Bastrop Highway (County Road 266.)
Police said Espinoza ran the red light at the intersection and collided with the victim’s vehicle. The Collision Investigation Team of the San Marcos Police Department is continuing its investigation into the fatal wreck. Results of the investigation will be forwarded to the Hays County District Attorney’s Office.
Justice of the Peace Joanne Prado pronounced the man dead at the scene.”
Location of the crash:
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June 24, 2008
Lake Travis drowning victim ID'd
Lago Vista police have identified a 28-year-old woman who drowned in Lake Travis after she fell off a dock on Sunday as Stephanie Deres, Sgt. Daniel Reid said.
Travis County divers found Deres Sunday afternoon, about 14 hours after she fell off a dock at Jewel Park at around midnight.
Reid said that the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office has preliminarily ruled that her death was caused by accidental drowning. He said police do not suspect foul play in her death.
Deres’ drowning was the sixth in Travis County this year, to go along with 16 near drownings, according to Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services spokesman Warren Hassinger.
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June 16, 2008
Police ID pedestrian in traffic accident, arrest driver
Police have identified a 19-year-old man who died Sunday after being struck by a car as Fermin Vences and arrested Edgar Soria-Palacios in connection with Vences’ death.
Sgt. Richard Stresing said that a dark-colored Mitsubishi, driven by Soria-Palacios, passed a slower car and struck Vences about 1 a.m. as Vences crossed North Lamar Boulevard mid-block near Masterson Pass.
Soria-Palacios left the scene of the accident. He was arrested today and has been charged with failure to stop and render aid. Vences’ death is the city’s 27th traffic fatality this year.
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June 12, 2008
Woman dies in Wednesday night traffic accident
A 62-year-old Kyle woman died from her injuries after her car was struck by an SUV near the intersection of Palmer Road and FM 1327, Department of Public Safety communications officer Blas Alvarado said this morning.
The accident happened around 6:05 p.m., Alvarado said.
Nancy Baring was driving a 2003 Saturn sedan north on Palmer Road when she stopped at a stop sign before continuing through the intersection, Alvarado said. As she drove through the intersection, her car was struck by the 2006 Nissan sport utility vehicle Edward Marks was driving, Alvarado said.
Baring died from her injuries at the scene and was taken to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office. Marks, 46, of Cedar Park, and a passenger in his car were taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge, Alvarado said.
The extent of their injuries was unclear. Everyone was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, Alvarado said.
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June 10, 2008
I-35 lanes reopened after fatal wreck
One person died in a head-on collision that happened about 5 a.m., a city of Georgetown spokesman said. Interstate 35’s northbound lanes were closed for a few hours but have reopened this morning.
Georgetown spokesman Keith Hutchinson said that Joseph Valdillez, a 21-year-old of San Antonio, died in the accident.
Valdillez was driving southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35, police said. Investigators said they do not know why he was traveling in the wrong direction. Valdillez hit a U-Haul truck head-on and died at the scene. According to a press release, the driver of the U-Haul was taken to St. David’s Georgetown Hospital and has been released. Police said he was not seriously injured.
The accident is still under investigation.
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1 dead in Travis County motorcycle accident
A 27-year-old Cedar Park man was killed Monday night when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a pickup at the intersection of Lindeman Lane and Nameless Road north of Jonestown, officials said.
Phillip Dwain Conley Jr. was driving his motorcycle eastbound on Lindeman Lane around 6:20 p.m. when a DPS trooper said that Conley disregarded a stop sign and was sideswiped by a 1990 Chevrolet pickup that James Ervin Daniels was driving northbound on Nameless Road.
No other injuries were reported in the accident.
Conley died from his injuries almost two hours later at the University Medical Center at Brackenridge, a dispatcher said.
Conley was not wearing a helmet, officials said.
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May 29, 2008
New Braunfels High students mourn teacher
As New Braunfels High School seniors prepare for graduation tonight, they mourn the death of Guillermo Eduardo Farias, a 54-year-old social studies teacher who drowned near South Padre Island over Memorial Day weekend.
Farias, a father of four, had gathered with his family at Isla Buena Park on Saturday morning and went swimming with one of his daughters, according to Cameron County Parks Police Chief Juan Mendoza. Farias and his daughter, Sara, 21, got caught in a rip current; Sara swam to safety but Farias became too exhausted to swim, Mendoza said.
Around noon Saturday, Mendoza said, Farias was spotted by a surfer who took Farias to shore and tried to resuscitate him. Farias was taken to Valley Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
New Braunfels school district spokeswoman Stephanie Ferguson said Farias and his family had moved to New Braunfels a year ago. His wife, Laura, is also a teacher with the school district.
“He was a teacher who had been with us for a very short time, but in that short time he made a big impact on the students that will last a lifetime,” Ferguson said. “The students respected him tremendously. He made an incredible impact on their lives. He was a great guy.”
Funeral services were held for Farias in Laredo on Wednesday. Ferguson said the high school is planning a memorial service to be held sometime this summer.
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May 27, 2008
13-year-old dies in accident on Kerr County ranch
A 13-year-old girl died Sunday evening in Kerr County when the four-wheeler recreational vehicle she was driving around a ranch flipped over. She was taken to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital soon after and pronounced dead.
She was riding the vehicle at a friend’s ranch near southern Kerr County and lost control of it, officials at the Kerr County sheriff’s office said. Officials attributed the accident to a lack of experience.
Police have not released the girl’s name.
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May 26, 2008
Pedestrian killed in Southeast Austin hit-and-run
A 51-year-old pedestrian killed in a Southeast Austin hit-and-run accident Monday night in Southeast Austin was identified this morning as Colbert Sanders.
Sanders was struck by two vehicles at around 9:26 p.m., police said, near the intersection of Montopolis and Riverside drives.
Sanders had been crossing from the south curb to the north curb of Riverside Drive when he was struck by a white Ford Expedition and a black or dark blue four-door Cadillac sedan. Both cars had been traveling West on Riverside, but neither driver attempted to stay at the scene, police said.
The Austin Police Department’s vehicular homicide unit is investigating the case. Sanders’ death is the 26th traffic fatality in Austin this year. Police ask anyone with information about the two vehicles to call detectives at 974-8681.
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May 21, 2008
Crockett man dies in rollover accident
An 18-year-old man died from his injuries early this morning after he was ejected from the pickup truck he was driving in a rollover accident, officials said.
Kevin Schumann was driving westbound on FM 812 near Doyle Road, close to the Travis and Bastrop county lines, when the 1999 Dodge pickup truck he was driving left the north side of the roadway at around 12:20 a.m.
A Department of Public Safety dispatcher said that the truck rolled over and Schumann, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time, was ejected from the vehicle.
Schumann, of Crockett, was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured in the accident, according to officials.
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May 16, 2008
Police identify motorcyclist killed in crash
Police this morning have identified the motorcyclist who died from his injuries in North Austin after the motorcycle he was on traveled off the roadway and crashed as Jimmie Joe Valdez.
The incident happened in the northbound lane of the 1700 block of Colony Creek Drive, between Rundberg Lane and U.S. 183 at about 1 a.m. Thursday.
Police spokesman James Mason said Valdez, 48, was thrown from his motorcycle and hit a brick flowerbed retaining wall.
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May 15, 2008
Officials identify man found hanging from cell phone tower
Travis County investigators have identified a 42-year-old man found hanging by a safety wire from a cell phone tower in Southwest Austin on Wednesday as Warren Todd Dronebarger, but they still have not determined how he ended up suspended from the cable.
Dronebarger’s body was discovered by a neighbor at 8:15 a.m. in the 7600 block of Thomas Springs Road, near the Y in Oak Hill, Travis County sheriff’s office spokesman Roger Wade said. When the man was found, he was suspended 30 feet from the ground by a safety cable around his neck.
The Travis County medical examiner’s office said this morning that Dronebarger appears to have died from positional asphyxia — he had been hanging upside down for an extended period, which did not allow him to breathe — but his official cause of death has not been determined. Wade said investigators do not suspect foul play in Dronebarger’s death.
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Motorcyclist dies in early morning accident
A motorcyclist driving in North Austin at around 1 a.m. died from his injuries after the motorcycle he was on traveled off the roadway and crashed, according to Lt. Eddie Byford, a spokesman for the Austin Police Department.
The accident happened in the northbound lane of the 1700 block of Colony Creek Drive, between Rundberg Lane and U.S. 183. The man’s name has not been released pending positive identification and notification of his family members.
Byford said that it had been raining at the time of the accident but it was unclear if weather was a factor in the accident.
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May 14, 2008
Man found hanging from cell phone tower
Travis County investigators are trying to determine how a 40-year-old man found hanging from a cell phone tower in Southwest Austin this morning died.
The man’s body was discovered by a neighbor at 8:15 a.m. in the 7600 block of Thomas Springs Road, near the Y in Oak Hill, according to Travis County sheriff’s office spokesman Roger Wade. When the man was found, he was suspended 30 feet from the ground by a safety wire around his neck.
“There’s nothing to indicate foul play at this time,” Wade said.
Wade said the man’s death appears to be accidental. The man, who was reportedly last seen yesterday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., has not yet been positively identified, Wade said.
“We don’t know why he was climbing up the tower,” Wade said.
The detectives are talking to several neighbors to determine why the man was climbing the pole.
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May 8, 2008
Fort Hood soldier killed in overnight accident
A 19-year-old Fort Hood soldier died from his injuries Wednesday night after the sport utility vehicle he was driving struck a concrete pillar on U.S. 190, Killeen police said today.
The wreck happened around 10:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of West U.S. 190. Police spokeswoman Carroll Smith said Jarad Alan Gammill drove through a grass median and up a concrete embankment before the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero rolled over.
Smith said Gammill was not wearing a seat belt. He was pronounced dead at 11:11 p.m. The accident is under investigation, she said.
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May 5, 2008
Road rage suspected in fatal wreck in Kyle
Kyle police said Monday they want to speak with a motorcyclist who may have been involved in a deadly wreck Friday afternoon.
Police said road rage may have been a factor in the wreck. According to witnesses, the motorcyclist appeared to have gotten off his bike and exchanged words with the driver of a 4-door Kia sedan at the intersection of Kyle Parkway and the east frontage road on Interstate 35. Soon after, the car headed south, “accelerating pretty fast and it appeared to be chasing the motorcycle,” said Captain Pedro Hernandez of the Kyle Police Department.
The car drove off the road onto a patch of grass, but when the driver attempted to get back on the road, he lost control of the vehicle and crossed into the northbound lane of traffic, hitting the rear tires of an 18-wheeler. Estevan Olivares, 2, was killed in the crash, officials said.
Police are looking for the motorcyclist and are asking him to come forward as a witness. The bike is described as a brown custom chopper-style motorcycle with orange flames.
There were six people in the car, police said, including driver Richard Nunez, 17, Michael Roark, 18, Cynthia Garcia, age unavailable, and Rene Hernandez, 1. The four adults were admitted to University Medical Center at Brackenridge. The name of a fifth adult was not released. The 1-year-old was not injured, police said.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call (512) 268-0859.
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May 2, 2008
Funerals set for 4 killed in Bastrop crash
Funerals will be held Saturday and Monday for two adults and two children killed in a head-on collision on Texas 304 and U.S. 71 Tuesday night will be buried tomorrow.
Cara Crisler, 27, a secretary from Cedar Park, and two of her daughters died after the Ford they were traveling in collided with a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 39-year-old truck driver Darrell Avery at around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday. Texas Department of Public Safety officials said that Avery had been driving his Jeep north on Texas 304 when it Jeep crossed into the southbound lane, where DPS spokesman Tom Vinger said Crisler was driving a Ford Excursion with her husband and three girls inside.
The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office released the 911 calls to their office after the crash yesterday. Four-year-old Talena Harris and Avery were pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. Kelsey Nicole Harris, 8, and the girls’ mother, Crisler, died at area hospitals after the wreck.
The girls’ father, Kevin Harris, who is identified as Crisler’s husband in funeral home arrangements, was injured in the crash but was treated at the University Medical Center at Brackenridge and released. His daughter, Marissa Harris, 6, also survived the crash.
Services will be held for Avery at 11 a.m. Saturday at Marrs-Jones-Newby Funeral Home in Lee County. Services will be held for Crisler and her daughters Kelsey and Talena on Monday at 11 a.m. at Second Baptist Church in La Grange.
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Police say driver charged in motorcycle hit and run faces additional charges
Austin police have brought a new charge, tampering with physical evidence, against 47-year-old Jimmie Roger Stanley, who is accused of leaving the scene of a fatality accident on Wednesday morning.
Stanley was arrested and charged with failing to stop and render aid, a state jail felony, after his semi-truck was rear-ended by a motorcycle on Interstate 35 near U.S. 183 just after 2 a.m. Wednesday.
Police said traffic had begun slowing down and merging into two lanes as motorists drove closer to a roadwork construction area when the motorcyclist collided with Stanley’s vehicle.
The man driving the motorcycle died at the scene, police said. He was identified today as Troy D. Uranga, 24.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Stanley drove away from the scene.
The affidavit says that Stanley called a mechanic at 3:30 a.m. after the collision to repair rear damage to the semi-truck. When the mechanic started working on the damage to the bent bumper, the affidavit says, a shoe dropped to the ground. The man fixing the truck also said he noticed blood and other evidence on the fender. He called his supervisor, who then called police.
“It turned out to be a 6-12 inch piece of human leg bone,” the affidavit says, which belonged to Uranga.
Tampering with or fabricating evidence is a third degree felony. If Stanley is convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
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April 30, 2008
Mom, 2 kids among 4 dead in Bastrop crash
Two little girls and a 38-year-old man were killed when a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Ford Excursion collided on Texas 304 three miles south of Bastrop on Tuesday night, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety said this morning.
Bastrop resident Darrell Avery, the driver of the Jeep, died at the scene, DPS spokesman Tom Vinger said.
Cara Crisler, 27, of Cedar Park, who was driving the Ford, was taken to the University Medical Center at Brackenridge with head injuries, Vinger said. Crisler died shortly after 10 a.m. this morning, Vinger said.
The two-vehicle accident happened at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday. Officials said Avery was driving a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Texas 304 and Crisler was driving southbound in a 2008 Ford Excursion. The Jeep crossed into the southbound lane and struck the Ford head on, according to the dispatcher. Witnesses told DPS that Avery had been driving erratically before the accident.
According to a preliminary investigation, only Crisler was wearing a seatbelt in the Excursion, Vinger said. Kevin Harris was treated at Brackenridge and released, Crowther said. Vinger said that Harris and Crisler had recently moved from Cedar Park to Bastrop.
Eight-year-old Kelsey Harris died at Dell’s Children Hospital shortly after the accident, Vinger said. Talena Harris, 4, was pronounced dead at the scene. Marissa Harris, 6, was injured in the crash and taken to Dell’s Children Hospital, where she is currently listed in good condition, Crowther said.
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Motorcyclist dies in overnight accident
Police are investigating the death of a motorcyclist in North Austin Interstate 35 and U.S. 183, police spokesman Lt. Keith Hartman said this morning.
The accident happened at around 2:16 this morning, Hartman said, in an area of the Interstate where a couple of lanes have already been shut down for construction. Investigators are trying to determine if other vehicles were involved in the crash, police said.
The man’s name has not been released pending positive identification.
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