Fatal East Austin Traffic Wreck Prompts Road Closure

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Austin Police Department on Thursday said it was investigating a fatal traffic collision in the eastern portion of the city that has sparked a road closure.

The incident occurred just after 10 a.m. Thursday along the 4800 block of South FM 973 Road. The aftermath of the crash has prompted closure of the artery to accommodate a police investigation.

Police provided no identifiers as to the victim during a subsequent press briefing. Austin-Travis County EMS medics, however, reported having transported a woman with life-threatening injuries to the hospital in the aftermath of the collision.

In a media briefing, APD Officer Destiny Silva said police were alerted to the collision at 10:16 a.m. Based on a preliminary police investigation, it appears the driver of a sedan traveling westbound on Pierce turned on a green light to enter the southbound lane of FM 973.

Meanwhile, the driver of a truck traveling northbound on FM 973 ran a red light and struck the side of the Sedan, Silva said. The driver of the sedan was transported to the hospital, the officer said, but died a short time later.

Silva said intoxication does not appear to have been a factor in the crash. The truck driver stayed on the scene awaiting the arrival of police, and was issued a citation for running a red light — a Class C misdemeanor.

The incident was one of two fatal traffic collisions to occur on Thursday morning. The first incident occurred just before 7 a.m. at 18206 and West U.S. 290, Silva said.

Related story: 3-Car Wreck In South Austin Leaves 1 Dead

Ironically, both traffic fatalities occurred during what has been designated as Distracted Drivers Awareness Month. Silva took the opportunity during her press briefing to urge drivers to be alert while on the roadway to avoid being involved in traffic collisions.

"We want to remind the community to pay attention to the roadway," Silva said. "These horrible outcomes can occur if you run a red light, if you disregard a posted sign, if you don't pay attention to the road, if you're not paying attention when pedestrians are walking by.

"Avoid any distractions — whether it be your phone, looking down, dropping something. As more people move into Austin, we have more cars on the roadway. Please pay attention because one simple mistake can cost someone their life."