Pedestrian Fatally Struck By Car In East Austin Identified

EAST AUSTIN, TX — Police on Thursday identified the pedestrian who was killed after being struck by a vehicle last week in East Austin.

The incident dates to last Friday, July 24, just after 11:30 p.m. along the 1000 block of Old Bastrop Highway. In an advisory, police said a gray, 2006 Toyota Sienna was traveling northbound when the vehicle struck a pedestrian who was on the roadway for unknown reasons. Despite life-saving measures applied by medics, the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police noted the driver of the Sienna remained on scene to cooperate with their investigation. Officials added it does not appear driver impairment or speed were a factor in the crash.

The fallen pedestrian was identified as Gilbert Hernandez Cortinas, 69.

Anyone with information regarding this case should call detectives at (512) 974-4278. Tips also can be submitted by downloading the police department's mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

The incident marked the city's 46th fatal traffic crash of 2020, police said, resulting in 51 fatalities this year. At this time in 2019, police added, there were 43 traffic fatalities.

The pedestrian death was the second in three days to occur in an Austin roadway that occurred under a similar scenario. On July 21, Sarah Christina Dabadie, 43, was fatally struck by a vehicle in North Austin. The incident occurred just before 1:35 a.m. along the southbound 9100 block of Research Boulevard, according to a police advisory. A preliminary police investigation yielded evidence a woman was in the roadway for unknown reasons before being struck by a vehicle. The driver who hit the woman did not stop, police said, and the identity of the driver is unknown.