Even with fewer cars on the road, Austin’s roadways are still a dangerous place.
Two pedestrians, one driver, and one person in a broken down vehicle have been killed in the past ten days alone. That brings the total death toll for the year to 32, compared to only 25 traffic fatalities by the same time last year.
On April 20 at 10:31 p.m., an F-150 truck was traveling in the inside lane in the 7800 block of N. IH-35 when it collided with a pedestrian who was walking with his acquaintance, according to a preliminary police investigation.
The victim was pronounced dead on scene. The acquaintance with whom he was walking was not injured. Austin Police have withheld the name of the pedestrian pending notification to next of kin.
In a news release, APD said that the driver of the truck remained on scene and there are no criminal charges expected.
Earlier that same day, at 3:43 p.m. on East Ben White Blvd. service road and Todd Lane, a 2019 flatbed truck ran the red light and collided with a Ford F-150 on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
The driver of the F-150, Lucino Gonzales LandaVerde, was pronounced deceased on the scene at 4:02 p.m.
APD said “No charges are expected at this time.”
Also on April 20, just after midnight, a 2017 white freightliner box truck was traveling eastbound in the inside lane in the 9100 block of E. Parmer Ln. when it struck a pedestrian who was in the middle of the inside lane.
The pedestrian, identified as Bruce Henry Chavez, was pronounced deceased on scene.
In the most recent incident, on April 28 at about noon, a 2008 Nissan Altima was broken down in the outside lane of the 2200 block of N. U.S. Hwy 183. A 2016 Isuzu box truck traveling southbound collided with the back end of the Nissan.
The driver of the Nissan was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas where she was pronounced deceased at 1:12 p.m.
No charges are expected at this time, APD said.
