The Austin Police Department is seeking the public’s help in tracking down a suspect connected to a deadly hit-and-run incident. According to the APD, the collision that claimed the life of a man occurred on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, shortly after 1 a.m. In an online statement, authorities described the accident happening in the 700 block of East Ben White Boulevard SVRD WB, near the Murphy's gas station. The victim, now identified as Michael Schoenherr, who was a pedestrian, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The unknown suspect, immediately after the crash, fled the location without stopping. The public has been requested to help identify and locate the suspect’s vehicle. "Anyone with any information should contact APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111," the statement reads. Information can also be shared anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by either visiting austincrimestoppers.org or by dialing 512-472-8477, which may lead to a reward of up to $1,000 for any information that results in an arrest.
Investigated as the 58th fatal crash of the year in Austin, this incident has brought the city’s fatality toll to 63 for 2024. At this same point last year, Austin had experienced 63 fatal crashes resulting in 66 fatalities. Authorities emphasize that initial reports from the scene are still being investigated, and all fatality information is pending as the Vehicular Homicide unit continues its inquiries into this tragic event.
Community members are encouraged, by the APD, to come forward with any knowledge they might have concerning the suspect vehicle, in an effort to bring closure to the victim's family and to hold the responsible individuals accountable. The Austin Police Department maintains commitment to investigating traffic incidents thoroughly and seeks to prevent fatalities through enforcement and education, as indicated in a previous statement.
