Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck By Car In East Austin

EAST AUSTIN, TX — Police have released details related to the death of a pedestrian in East Austin on Friday who was fatally struck by a car while walking toward traffic.

The incident occurred just before 6:20 a.m. along the 3100 block of Highway 71 eastbound, according to a police advisory. According to the police account, witnesses reported seeing the man walking toward traffic — prompting motorists to swerve in order to avoid hitting him.

The driver of a black, 2016 Ford Expedition noticed vehicles ahead of him in the middle lane veering to the left, police said. Assuming there was a traffic hazard ahead, the driver took evasive action by moving to the right — hitting the man as he walked on the roadway, police said.

Law enforcement officials identified the pedestrian as 35-year-old Jesse Gomez, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle remained at the crash site to cooperate in a police investigation, officials said, and no charges are expected to be filed.

The incident marked Austin’s 83rd fatal traffic crash of 2020, police said, resulting in 89 fatalities this year. At this time in 2019, police added, there were 84 traffic fatalities.