Police ID Man Killed In Wreck Along MoPac Expressway

AUSTIN, TX — Police on Tuesday identified the driver who died after crashing into a barrier after attempting to take an exit from MoPac Expressway this past weekend.

The incident occurred on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 11:50 a.m. along the 12600 block of southbound North Mopac Expressway. An investigation determined a driver of a white, 2015 Toyota Prius that was in the right lane of the road attempted to exit but struck a barrier instead. The impact caused the vehicle to bounce off the median with such force as to ejected back on the road, where it was struck on the passenger's side by a black, 2013 Ford F150.

The driver of the Ford was not injured, and remained at the scene to cooperate with a police investigation. But the driver of the Prius, 42-year-old Leon Jay Harvey, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Related story: Man Dies In North Austin Traffic Wreck

Police believe excessive speed was factor in the crash, and no charges are expected to be filed against the other driver.

The incident marked the city's fourth fatal traffic crash of 2020, police noted, resulting in four fatalities this year. At this time in 2019, police added, there was one traffic fatality recorded.