Hit-And-Run Driver Sought After Pedestrian's Death In N. Austin

AUSTIN, TX — Police are seeking help from the public in identifying a driver who fatally struck a pedestrian in North Austin without stopping to render aid last month.

The incident occurred on Oct. 31 just past 7:35 p.m. along the 9400 block of Burnet Road, police wrote in an advisory. A preliminary investigation shows an unknown suspect vehicle was traveling northbound along Burnet Road, with a red, 2010 Mazda sedan and white, 2009 Ford Mustang traveling behind.

A witness told police she was traveling northbound in the outside lane of the 9300 block of Burnet Rd., and observed a pedestrian crossing the road from the east to west curb line. The witness said the pedestrian crossed the road without regard to vehicular traffic, without looking both ways and not in a crosswalk, police said.

The unknown suspect vehicle struck the pedestrian in the inside lane as the pedestrian attempted to cross the road, according to police. After the collision, police added, the suspect vehicle did not stop and continued driving. The witness could only describe the suspect vehicle as possibly a red car, according to the police report, adding that she pulled immediately to the side of the road as she observed other vehicles strike the pedestrian as he lay on the ground.

Police said the driver of the Mazda said he never saw the initial auto-pedestrian collision, didn't see the mortally wounded pedestrian in the roadway until it was too late. The driver of the Ford expressed similar sentiments, telling police she also did not see the pedestrian until it was too late until it was too late to avoid contact with her car. However, police noted, both drivers pulled over and are fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation — unlike the driver in the red car that hit the pedestrian the first time.

The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene at 7:47 p.m. Police described the crash victim only as a 42-year-old Caucasian man. The fatal auto-pedestrian incident is being investigated as a failure to stop and render aid case, police noted.

As they continue their investigation, detectives urge anyone with information to contact them 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 74th fatal traffic crash of 2020, police said, resulting in 79 fatalities this year. At this time in 2019, police added, there were 73 traffic fatalities.