2 Pedestrians and a Cyclist Were Struck in Austin This Week
September 6th, 2024
In three separate accidents, three people were struck by vehicles on Austin roadways between September 3rd and 5th. The crashes left two people dead and one with life-threatening injuries.
Below you can learn more about the crashes and the high number of pedestrian accidents on Texas roads from the team at Ramos James Law, PLLC, your Austin car accident lawyers.
The Tuesday Pedestrian Accident
The first accident occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. Officers with the Austin Police Department responded to a crash in the 900 block of North I-35, northbound, at around 5:37 a.m. The crash involved one vehicle and one pedestrian.
According to authorities, the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The identification of the deceased has not been released.
The driver involved in the incident remained on the scene to assist authorities and is cooperating with law enforcement. An investigation into the crash remains underway by Austin PD.
The Wednesday Cyclist Accident
The second accident occurred on Wednesday at around 12:35 at night. The accident involved a cyclist and a single vehicle. Authorities with the Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) responded to the scene at the intersection of Stassney Lane and South Congress Avenue.
An adult was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the deceased has not been released at this time. Roads nearby were closed as the scene was processed, and authorities encouraged drivers to seek alternate routes.
The Thursday Pedestrian Accident
ATCEMS responded to the third accident at just after 10 p.m. on Thursday. Like the second accident, the Thursday accident also occurred on South Congress Avenue, this time at the intersection with Lightsey Road near St. Edward’s University. The crash involved a single pedestrian and vehicle.
According to ACTEMS, they began CPR on an adult patient after arriving on the scene and were able to regain a pulse. The patient was soon transported to a nearby hospital with “critical, life-threatening injuries,” says ACTEMS.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in Texas?
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), there were a total of 8,516 crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists in 2023. That’s more than 23 accidents every day, or about one every hour. Of those accidents, 903 resulted in at least one fatality. That means that 11% of all pedestrian accidents in Texas last year were deadly. Compare that to the less than 1% of all car accidents that result in a death. In other words, you’re about 20 times more likely to die in a pedestrian accident compared to a non-pedestrian accident.
All that just goes to show how important it is for all drivers to do their part to prevent pedestrian accidents, and how important it is for all pedestrians to take care while walking near roadways. Do your part by following our tips for pedestrian safety.