2 Killed In Fiery Crash Along Interstate 35 In Austin

AUSTIN, TX — Police on Tuesday identified the two motorists who were killed last week following a fiery wrong-way crash on Interstate 35.

The incident occurred on Friday (July 24) just before 12:45 a.m. along the 13700 block of South I-35 northbound, police said in an advisory. Multiple 9-1-1 callers alerted police to a vehicle traveling southbound along the northbound lane of the highway before the gray 2017 Nissan Altima collided head-on with a 2003 gold Chevrolet Silverado.

The driver of the Altima, Jose Martin Zamarripa, 27, was partially ejected from his vehicle upon impact before being pronounced dead just before 1 a.m., according to police. The driver of the Silverado, Brian Allen Tucker, 47, was ejected from the vehicle that had been pulling a travel trailer, both fully engulfed in flames, police said. Tucker also was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police noted a passenger who was traveling in the Silverado managed to exit the vehicle prior to it catching fire. Thanks to an off-duty University of Texas Police Department officer who witnessed the crash, the woman who exited the vehicle was transported to an area hospital for treatment of critical injuries, police noted.

Those with information on this incident are urged to contact detectives at (512) 974-4278. Tips also can be submitted by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

The incident marked Austin’s 44th fatal traffic crash of 2020, police said, resulting in 48 fatalities this year. At this time in 2019, police added, there were 43 traffic fatalities.