A second tragic incident in less than a week occurred on SH 71 in Bastrop when an adult male was killed after being struck by a vehicle on Friday evening. According to a CBS Austin report, the man was attempting to cross the eastbound lanes of SH 71 when the accident happened at approximately 5:47 p.m.
The response from emergency services was swift, with Bastrop Police officers arriving alongside personnel from the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office and the Bastrop Fire Department. Despite their efforts to quickly to administer CPR quickly, the pedestrian succumbed to his injuries. His identity has yet to be released, pending notification of next of kin. The driver involved in the collision was unharmed, and no other injuries or damages were reported.
As per FOX 7 Austin, this incident marks the second fatal auto-pedestrian crash to occur on SH 71 within just a week, with a previous accident claiming a woman's life on Sept. 21. The repetitive nature of these accidents raises concerns about pedestrian safety on this particular stretch of the highway.
Following the crash, the eastbound lanes were shut to allow the investigation to commence, but they were reopened about four hours later. The investigations into both incidents continue as authorities seek to understand the precise circumstances leading to these tragedies.
