Austin Police have arrested a man for highway racing after he collided with a vehicle that he was racing, killing the other driver.
In a news release, APD said that the preliminary investigation shows that a silver, 2012 Chevrolet truck and a red, 2005, Infinity sedan were in the parking lot near the 7600 block of Bluff Springs Road when the drivers decided to have a road race.
The two vehicles drove south on Bluff Springs Rd. to start the race. The Chevrolet truck was in the left lane and the Infiniti was in the right lane of the road.
According to APD, “As they raced, the Infiniti pulled way ahead of the Chevrolet truck. As the Infiniti approached the 7600 block of Bluff Springs Rd., the Infiniti attempted to turn left into the parking lot where they had previously been sitting.”
“The Chevrolet truck hit the driver’s side of the Infiniti as it was attempting the turn. The Infiniti spun several times and came to final rest against a pole on the west side of the roadway.”
The driver of the Infiniti was transported to St. David’s South Austin Hospital where he died as a result of his injuries. The driver of the truck initially fled the scene after the crash but returned to the scene later.
The accident took place on the night of Jan. 15-16, 2020.
The driver of the Chevrolet, Jorge Luis Lopez-Dominguez, was arrested and charged with two second degree felonies: racing on a highway and failure to stop and render aid. His total bond amount is $100,000.
APD is encouraging anyone with information regarding the case to call Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-5576, or submit tips online.
Roadway fatalities in Austin this year are outpacing last year’s tally. This was Austin’s fifth fatal crash of 2020, compared to one by the same date last year.
