Austin's roads have claimed another life in a tragic turn of events earlier this week. Austin Police Department responded to a severe collision late Monday night that ended with a young boy dead and a city grappling with the growing number of traffic fatalities this year. According to official reports, the accident occurred in the 200 block of US 183 Toll SB lanes.
The crash involved a sedan, which had come to a stop in the middle lane and was signaling distress with its hazard lights. A hatchback, for reasons still under investigation, was unable to avoid a collision and smashed into the sedan's rear. There were two juvenile passengers in the sedan, one of whom, DeErick Williams II, suffered injuries so severe they would prove fatal, to tragically pass away later. The sedan's driver managed to escape physical harm. On the scene, the hatchback driver sustained minor injuries and cooperated fully with the authorities.
Traffic Fatality in the 200 block of US 183 Toll Road SB - https://t.co/V6DQY38Qd1 pic.twitter.com/Q678pdjehc
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) February 14, 2024
This heartbreaking incident is now marked as Austin's sixth fatal crash of the year. The Austin Police Department, in an effort to thoroughly understand and close this case, is reaching out to the public to possibly shed light on the circumstances leading up to the collision. They urge anyone with information to come forward and provide assistance to APD's Vehicular Homicide unit. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program.
Details of this ongoing investigation are subject to change as more information surfaces, and authorities are intent on piecing together what exactly transpired on that fateful evening.
