A horrific incident unfolded early Wednesday when a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on the bustling I-35 in Downtown Austin, resulting in life-threatening injuries and a major traffic shutdown. Emergency services were alerted to the situation around 10:09 a.m., quickly transporting the critically injured adult to Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas, according to FOX 7 Austin.

Chaos reigned on the southbound lanes as authorities moved swiftly to shut down the interstate near Cesar Chavez Street, causing traffic disruptions that soon spilled onto alternative routes, the aftermath led drivers to be rerouted onto frontage roads to circumvent the closed-off area, leading to extended congestion and delays as Austin Police Department urged, as per KXAN, for exits to be used at 234B or before 233 in response to the dire situation.

The Texas Department of Transportation confirmed the complete closure of the affected lanes and the consequent traffic redirection. First responders arriving at the scene just a minute after the EMS notification, per Austin-Travis County EMS, attests to the urgency and gravity of the incident.

Local authorities are investigating what circumstances led to the collision, the downtown area is known for its dense traffic and pedestrian activity, and today's incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life amidst the steel and speed of urban movement, promising updates as more information becomes available, as reported by FOX 7 Austin.