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Hit-and-run
February 7, 2012
UT soccer player in hit-and-run sees improvement
Hospital officials say Kylie Doniak, a four-year University of Texas soccer player who was injured in a hit-and-run crash last week, remains in critical condition. But family members say she’s showing signs of improvement.
Doniak suffered the most extensive injuries of a crowd of pedestrians struck by a hit-and-run driver early Friday morning in downtown Austin, officials have said. Doniak was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge after she was struck in a hit-and-run crash at East Eighth and San Jacinto streets about 2 a.m. Friday and has been in critical condition since, hospital officials have said.
Authorities said the suspect in the case ran the red light at the intersection and was chased down by a witness for nearly a dozen blocks before he was detained and police arrived. Nicholas Ray Colunga, 22, was in Travis County jail today on $60,000 bail, jail records show, and is charged with intoxication assault and two counts of failure to stop and render aid, police have said.
An arrest affidavit issued in the case this week said Doniak suffered significant head injury, multiple rib fractures, a punctured lung and a large laceration to her back. Both bones in her right leg were broken, as well.
“We got the best surprise God could ever have provided for us today!!!!” her family said this morning on the CaringBridge.org website, which family members have used to update her progress. Family members said Doniak opened her eyes.
Colunga made several statements saying he had been drinking that night, the affidavit issued in the case said.
“I hope I didn’t kill anyone,” Colunga said while being detained, the affidavit said. “I know that I hurt someone. I’ll take responsibility. Take me downtown, I know you’re going to do it.”
Colunga also told police he was “no where near sober” and smelled of a strong odor of alcohol and his speech was slurred and mumbled, the affidavit said.
Friends have been posting public messages on Facebook and Twitter urging prayers for Doniak’s recovery. Parents of the Chino Hills, Calif., native who won several awards as a forward for the Longhorn soccer team arrived to Brackenridge on Friday from California.
Last night, a prayer vigil was held for Doniak on the University of Texas campus.
Her family said early Tuesday on the CaringBridge.org website that Doniak was still suffering from brain swelling and said her body temperature had been lowered to reduce brain activity.
“Keep praying for her brain swelling to go down and her brain pressure to remain down because that is the biggest factor determining her healing and progress right now,” the family said in a post. “We don’t know if she can hear us or see us, but I know she can feel us and feel God’s presence because of all of our prayers.”
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February 3, 2012
Victim, suspect identified in downtown hit-and-run
Update:
University of Texas athletics spokesman Nick Voinis said the woman who was critically injured in the hit-and-run in downtown Austin early Friday is Kylie Doniak, at right, a senior who played four seasons on the Longhorn soccer team.
In addition, police have identified the man suspected of driving the car involved in the incident as 22-year-old Nicholas Colunga.
Colunga, at right, was booked into Travis County Jail shortly after 5 a.m.on three charges and remained jailed this afternoon, according to jail records.
Colunga is facing two counts of failure to stop and render aid and intoxication assault, an Austin police official said.
Update:
A driver is in custody after witnesses said a vehicle ran a red light and drove into a crowd of pedestrians, critically injuring one woman, in downtown Austin, a police official said.
The driver is facing charges in connection with the incident after a witness followed him and tackled him until police arrived, said Austin police spokeswoman Veneza Aguinaga.
Witnesses said the driver of a Chevy Impala ran a red light around 2 a.m. while driving west on Eighth Street at San Jacinto Boulevard, Aguinaga said. At that time, several pedestrians were walking north in the crosswalk on San Jacinto crossing Eighth Street, she said.
The vehicle then struck three pedestrians, two women and a man, and left the scene, Aguinaga said. One woman was critically injured, another was treated at the scene, while the man suffered minor, non life-threatening injuries, she said. The critically injured woman and the man were both taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, she said.
A motorcyclist who witnessed the incident followed the suspected hit-and-run driver for several blocks until the suspect stopped at 10th Street and Rio Grande, she said. The motorcyclist then tackled the suspected driver and detained him until police arrived, she said.
Alcohol is suspected in the case.
The driver could be facing several charges in connection with the case, including driving while intoxicated and failure to stop and render aid, she said.
The injured female remained in critical condition this morning, Aguinaga said.
Earlier:
A woman was critically injured this morning when she was struck by a vehicle in downtown Austin, while another pedestrian suffered minor injuries, officials said Friday.
The critically injured woman was struck around 2 a.m. near East Eighth Street and San Jacinto Boulevard, officials said.
The woman was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, officials said. The call initially came in as a hit-and-run, however, the driver has since been detained, the official said.
A second person was also struck in an auto-pedestrian crash in the downtown incident and suffered minor injuries and was also taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, an Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Service official said.
A pedestrian attempted to chase down the driver of what was initially reported as a hit-and-run, and that driver remains in police custody, officials said.
Authorities expect to release additional details in the case later today.
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February 1, 2012
Austin man charged in fatal hit-and-run
An Austin man has been charged in a fatal collision in Northwest Austin last week that left 25-year-old Justin Patrick Murphy dead.
Michael Joseph Eggenberger II, 31, is charged with failure to stop and render aid, a felony.
Eggenberger (pictured) told police he was driving along the northbound frontage road of U.S. 183 near McNeil Drive when he saw a “black blob” in front of his vehicle “immediately before impact,” the affidavit said.
Officers said Murphy was walking his bicycle in the same area the evening of Jan. 23, the night he died.
Relatives said Murphy would often call his girlfriend during the five-mile trek home from his Apple Inc. job.
On Jan. 23, about 10:30 p.m., Murphy’s girlfriend said the phone suddenly went dead, his family told officers. She and relatives searched for him until they received word that he was killed.
Austin police connected the hit-and-run to a Ford F150, an arrest affidavit said.
Eggenberger came forward through his attorney Thursday and met with police on Friday, the document said.
Eggenberger told police he was driving his sister’s vehicle, a Ford F150, home from downtown Austin the night of the fatal crash.
Eggenberger said “he came to an immediate stop after the collision and that he looked back to see what he had hit,” the affidavit said. He then told police “he saw nothing in the roadway, so he drove to a nearby parking lot to examine the damage under better lighting.”
Seeing no blood or hair on his vehicle, Eggenberger said he “assumed he did not collide with a person,” it said.
The following day, he saw media coverage on the crash the next day and “became concerned he may have been responsible,” the affidavit said.
Travis County jail records show his bail is $25,000; Eggenberger was not in custody this morning.
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January 25, 2012
Ford F150 involved in fatal hit-and-run on 183, police say
Officials released new details on a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a 25-year-old man Tuesday night in Northwest Austin.
Police say they examined a headlight and other vehicle parts left at the scene and now believe a Ford F150 ranging in model years 2004 to 2007 was involved in the wreck, said police Detective Michael McCarter.
The vehicle sustained significant damage around its passenger-side headlight area and the headlight would be missing, McCarter said.
The man killed in the crash was identified as Justin Patrick Murphy, a former Army private. Murphy was apparently cycling home from his job with Apple, McCarter said.
Murphy’s bicycle did not have safety lights on the back, McCarter said. However, the driver of the vehicle should have known they struck Murphy, McCarter added.
The crash occurred shortly before 10:30 p.m. in the northbound service road of U.S. 183 near Oak Knoll Drive, officials have said. A bus driver discovered Murphy’s body, McCarter said.
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January 24, 2012
Cyclist killed in overnight hit-and-run crash
5 p.m. update: Police have identified the man killed in the crash as 25-year-old Justin Patrick Murphy. The vehicle that struck the cyclist was described as a Ford F150 with damage between the center and front right headlight.
Earlier: A bicyclist was killed last night in a hit-and-run crash in Northwest Austin, a police official said.
The crash occurred shortly before 10:30 p.m. in the northbound service road of U.S. 183 near McNeil Drive, the official said.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the cyclist did not stop, the official said. Police were paged to the scene and found a deceased person lying in the roadway, the official said.
The roadway was closed until 2:30 a.m. as police investigated the scene, the official said.
The identity of the deceased person has not been released. Police continue to investigate the incident, the official said.
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Kyle police say hit-and-run victim may be from Mexico
Kyle police are investigating whether a woman who was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 35 last week was from Mexico.
The woman, who was hit on the northbound highway near Center Street, died from multiple sources of trauma according to the autopsy report, city spokesman Jerry Hendrix said.
Though police haven’t identified the woman, an identification card found at the scene indicates she was a Mexican citizen. Investigators are trying to determine her point of entry and her destination.
Hendrix said the woman appeared to be a Hispanic female in her early 20s with a medium build and dark brown, medium-length hair. She was wearing Ralph Lauren canvas shoes, pink striped socks, blue jeans, a pink T-shirt, a blue jacket and blue fingernail polish.
Police are still seeking information on the circumstances surrounding her death. Anyone with information about her identity or the collision should call 512-268-3232.
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January 19, 2012
Kyle police seeking information about hit-and-run
SAN MARCOS — Kyle police officials say investigators need help identifying a woman who was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 35 Wednesday night and are seeking information on the circumstances surrounding her death.
Kyle police shut down all northbound lanes of the highway near Center Street for a couple hours while authorities investigated the collision, which occurred shortly after 10 p.m., city spokesman Jerry Hendrix said.
Hendrix said the woman, who appeared to be a Hispanic female in her early 20s, showed obvious signs of trauma. An autopsy is underway to establish the cause of death. Hendrix said he didn’t know when the medical examiner’s results would be available.
“Whoever hit her didn’t stop,” he said, and police are looking for the driver.
The woman had a medium build and dark brown, medium-length hair, officials said. She was wearing Ralph Lauren canvas shoes, pink striped socks, blue jeans, a pink T-shirt, a blue jacket and blue fingernail polish.
Anyone with information about her identity or the collision should call 512-268-0859.
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November 7, 2011
Police name man killed in Sunday hit-and-run
Updated at 7:26 p.m.: Adam Conrad Grote was a University of Texas student.
The university released this statement from Frederick Steiner, Dean of the school of architecture:
“Everyone at the School of Architecture is saddened and stunned to learn of this tragic news. Adam Grote is remembered by his professors and classmates as an amiable young man and a talented and hardworking student. He was due to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in architecture next spring. This loss will be deeply felt by everyone in the School of Architecture community.”
Earlier: Police on Monday named the man who was struck and killed by a white Chevrolet car early Sunday.
Adam Conrad Grote, 22, was walking on the shoulder of the southbound Interstate 35 frontage road just south of East Riverside Drive when the car swerved into Grote about 3:15 a.m., police said.
Grote was pronounced dead on the scene.
The car fled the scene, police said.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Austin Police vehicular homicide detectives at 512-974-8164. This is the 47th traffic fatality of 2011.
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November 6, 2011
Man killed in hit-and-run on I-35 frontage road
A pedestrian died early Sunday in an apparent hit-and-run on the southbound I-35 frontage road south of Riverside Drive, officials said.
A white man in his early 20s was pronounced dead on the scene when a white Chevrolet car hit him about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, Austin Police said.
Police have not released the man’s identity and have not found the driver of the car.
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October 27, 2011
Hit-and-run driver kills mother, newborn survives
A 22-year-old pregnant San Marcos woman died earlier today of injuries suffered after she was struck by a hit-and-run driver.
San Marcos authorities said that at 11:05 p.m. on Tuesday, 22-year-old Diann Ford was walking across the Interstate 35 west access road near Texas 80 when she was hit. Ford was leaving work at a nearby restaurant to return to her residence on Linda Lane east of I-35.
Her infant, born after the collision, survived.
The baby, a girl, was delivered by Caesarean section at University Medical Center Brackenridge. San Marcos officials said today that she was reported to be in good condition in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Witnesses or anyone who may have information about the hit-and-run vehicle and driver is asked to contact Sgt. Christopher Tureaud at 512-754-2214 or on his cell phone at 512-738-1300.
Tureaud said that Ford told officers that the car that struck her appeared dark and had extra bright headlights.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of Ford’s death, officials said.
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May 25, 2011
Police seek info on hit-and-run near Rundberg Lane
FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT:
On Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at 3:18 a.m., Austin Police Officers responded to a crash/failure to stop and render aid call in the 10100 block of North IH 35 northbound just north of Rundberg Lane.
A 1999 to 2004 Silver Chrysler 300M struck a pedestrian as he was putting gas in his vehicle. The Chrysler then struck the pedestrian’s black Volvo and fled the scene north bound on the east frontage.
The victim was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge with life threatening injuries.
Detectives are seeking witnesses of this crash or anyone who can identify the vehicle or driver. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detective Chad Francois at (512) 974-4724. This case remains under investigation.
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May 9, 2011
Police investigating hit-and-run death in LaGrange
FROM THE FAYETTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE:
Sheriff Keith Korenek reports that on Monday, May 2, 2011 at approximately 10:50 PM, a hit a run fatality occurred on HWY 159, just outside the City of La Grange. The accident resulted in the death of a pedestrian.
The vehicle involved in the incident did not stop, and descriptions of the vehicle are sketchy at this time. It is described as a passenger car and will probably be missing the driver’s side rear view mirror and have substantial windshield and front end damage.
Pronounced deceased at St. Mark’s Medical Center was, Isaac Smith, 79 yrs old, of La Grange.
The incident is being investigated by Lee County Dept Of Public Safety, Trooper Robert Thorp. He was assisted by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, La Grange Police Dept., Fayette County EMS, and La Grange Fire Dept.
Sheriff Korenek requests that anyone with information on this incident call the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office or Fayette County Crime Stoppers.
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May 7, 2011
Pedestrian killed in Temple hit and run; driver arrested
A 68-year-old Temple woman was struck and killed early Saturday morning by a pickup driven by a man who Temple police said fled the scene and was later arrested at his home. Police charged 36-year-old Jorge Robles-Gonzales with intoxication manslaughter and said he was intoxicated when they found him at his Belton home.
According to Temple Police Department officials, Mary Lou Garcia was a pedestrian in the parking lot of the Outback bar on S. Martin Luther King Dr. in Temple, just after 1 a.m. when she was struck by the pickup, which also hit two other parked vehicles. Police said the driver then fled on foot, but officers found his home address through information from the pickup. Robles-Gonzales remains in the Bell County Jail and bond has not yet been set, Temple Police officials said. Garcia was taken to Scott and White Hospital, where she died.
The accident remains under investigation.
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April 28, 2011
3-year-old injured in Temple hit-and-run
FROM THE TEMPLE POLICE DEPARTMENT:
On Monday, 4-25-11, at about 3:20 pm, Temple Police began investigating a Hit and Run crash that occurred in the 1000 block of East Adams Avenue. Officers learned that a 3-year-old child had been taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The child had been struck by a vehicle, which had fled the scene. A family friend then drove upon the scene, and took the child to Scott and White Hospital. The injuries have since been determined to be significant, but non-life-threatening.
The investigation into the crash found that the child was with his mother and another sibling, and they were waiting to cross East Adams from the north to the south, at the intersection with North 20th Street. As a vehicle approached, the 3-year-old broke free from his mother’s hand, and entered traffic in front of the vehicle. The vehicle’s right tires and front bumper struck the child. The driver of the vehicle stopped, spoke for a few moments, then left towards the west (toward downtown) without assisting or calling for any assistance.
The suspect vehicle is described as a maroon or dark red, large, newer model SUV, possibly a Ford Expedition.
The driver is described as an adult Hispanic woman, about 40 years of age, about 5’4”, medium build, with shoulder length brown hair.
The investigation into the crash, and subsequent offense of Fail to Stop and Render Aid, is ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Temple Police Department, Traffic Unit, at 254-298-5500.
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April 26, 2011
Bicyclist killed in hit-and-run on S. Lamar Blvd. identified
Update:
A man who died following a hit-and-run crash shortly before midnight Saturday on South Lamar Boulevard later has been identified as 24-year-old Andrew C. Runciman, Austin police officials said Tuesday.
Runciman was riding south in the far right lane in the 3500 block of South Lamar, near Westland Drive, police have said. A dark-colored SUV, also driving south, struck the bicycle and left, police said.
Runciman died Sunday at University Medical Center Brackenridge of his injuries, police said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Vehicular Homicide Unit at 974-8164. Police said it is the 17th traffic fatality of 2011.
Earlier from the Austin Police Department
On Saturday, April 23, 2011, at 11:44 p.m., Austin Police Officers responded to a serious injury crash in the 3500 Block of S. Lamar Boulevard.
A preliminary investigation shows that the victim was riding his bicycle southbound on S. Lamar Blvd when a dark colored SUV, also traveling southbound, struck his bicycle and then left the scene. The victim is reported to have been traveling in the far right lane of S. Lamar Blvd.
He was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was pronounced deceased on Sunday, April 24, 2011 as a result of his injuries.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-8164. This case remains under investigation. This is the 17th fatality of 2011. At this time in 2010, there were 16 traffic fatalities.
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