The family of an Austin woman tragically killed in a car accident with an on-duty police officer is suing the City of Austin and the involved officer for $1 million. Maria Casillas Reyes, 43, tragically lost her life in the June 30 crash when Officer Alyssa Preuss collided with Reyes's car as it sat stationary with a flat tire along N. U.S. Highway 183. The lawsuit, according to KXAN, alleges that Reyes was stopped in the outside lane of the highway when the officer's vehicle struck her from behind, with injuries from the collision ultimately leading to Reyes's death.
As the family grapples with their loss, Reyes's friend Amanda Flores spoke out, highlighting a festering wound within their community—that the city has allegedly not provided adequate resources to Reyes's surviving kin. "She was to my understanding changing a tire or waiting to get her tire changed on the side of the road," Flores said in a statement obtained by FOX 7 Austin. She added "That was the worst car accident I’ve ever seen in my life, and it didn’t have to happen" and stressed that it was a preventable tragedy.
The city did respond to inquiries, outlining the process for filing a claim against the city and mentioning support services such as crisis counseling and advocacy that are available during an investigation. However, according to Flores’s interview with FOX 7, these measures have fallen short. The grief-stricken friend continues to advocate for Reyes's daughters, attempting to fill the void left by one who was "my sister here in Austin."
While the vehicular homicide unit of the Austin Police Department has concluded its investigation and a Williamson County Grand Jury found insufficient evidence for prosecution, the APD's internal affairs probe remains active. Despite the procedural progress, for those affected by the loss of Reyes, such actions offer little solace. A daughter's lament resonates with a harrowing immediacy, as she was on the phone with her mother during the moment of impact. Requests for counseling have been denied, amplifying the family's need for support—a need they claim has been unmet by the city.
