Austin Police yesterday arrested a man who allegedly was drunk at 11:30 in the morning, ran a red light, and struck another vehicle, killing the other driver.
In a news release APD said, “The preliminary investigation shows that a 2009, black Mitsubishi Lancer was traveling at a high rate of speed, westbound in the inside lane of Rutland Dr. The Mitsubishi ran the red light at Mearns Meadow and struck the passenger side of a 2001, blue Saturn sedan.”
The vehicle that was struck had a green light.
Police arrested Elmer Cortez-Rayes, 21 years old, and charged him with intoxication manslaughter. The driver of the Saturn was pronounced deceased on scene.
Another recent traffic fataity involved a pedestrian who was struck by two vehicles. Jacob Boelter, 42, was on Bluff Springs Road at 1:27 a.m. on February 7 when he was struck by one vehicle coming southbound, then was struck by another vehicle coming northbound.
He later died at St. David’s South Medical Center.
Police say that the first vehicle that struck Boelter did not stop but that the driver later contacted police when he heard that there had been a fatality. That vehicle has been impounded by the police. The Mazda remained on the scene.
Traffic fatalities this year are outpacing those last year, totaling 14 so far. A number of fatalities appear to have involved distracted driving or speeding. In a daylight crash on February 1, a 25-year-old man lost control of his vehicle and left the roadway, smashing into a group of trees.
