Motorist Dies In Multi-Car North Austin Wreck

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — Police on Tuesday identified the motorist who died in a multi-vehicle wreck last month in North Austin where the driver causing the wreck fled the scene.

The incident occurred on Oct. 31 just after 9 p.m. along the 11200 block of Research Boulevard, according to a police advisory. A preliminary police investigation showed that black, 2013 Dodge Durango was traveling northbound on the outside lane of Research Boulevard before the driver abruptly engaged the brakes.

The sudden engagement of the brakes caused another driver traveling in a tan, 2017 Honda CR-V to abruptly stop, according to police. Simultaneously, the driver of another vehicle traveling behind the Honda was forced to swiftly change lanes to the left to avoid hitting the Honda, police said. A motorist behind that vehicle in a gray, 2014 Jeep Wrangler was traveling behind before striking the rear of the Honda after an inability to stop, officials described.

The force of that impact caused the Honda to slam into the Dodge Durango, according to law enforcement officials. Police said the driver of the Dodge left the scene without stopping in violation of state law. According to police, a witness followed the Durango to record the vehicle's license plates. The patrol officers on scene contacted the suspected driver of the truck, police added, and detectives later interviewed him — at which time he confessed to being the driver at the time of the multi-vehicle crash. No charges have been filed at this time as the case is still being investigated, according to the Austin Police Department.

The driver of the Honda was transported to St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just before 11 p.m., officials said. He was identified as 67-year-old Alan Wayne Goldsberry. A passenger of Goldsberry's remains in stable condition at an area hospital, police added. The driver of the Jeep was treated and released, police said, and no one in the Dodge Durango was hurt.

While detective continue with their investigation, they urge anyone with information about the case to contact them at (512) 974-6935. Tips also can be submitted by downloading the police department's mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

The incident marked the city's 75th fatal traffic crash of 2020, police said, resulting in 80 fatalities this year. At this time in 2019, police added, there were 72 traffic fatalities.