A Christmas Eve evening in downtown Austin turned tragic when 35-year-old Joseph Capulong Katigbak was struck by a vehicle near the Seaholm district and later died from his injuries, according to police.
The crash happened around 5:55 p.m. on Wednesday at the intersection of West Cesar Chavez Street and Walter Seaholm Drive. Katigbak was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead the following morning. Police say the driver stayed at the scene and has been cooperating with investigators as they work to untangle what happened in the busy downtown corridor.
According to CBS Austin, officers with the Austin Police Department responded to the collision and later identified the victim as Katigbak, 35. The outlet reported that officers found no immediate signs of impairment by the driver, who remained on scene and is assisting detectives with the investigation.
APD Investigation And City Traffic Totals
The City of Austin said in a news release that the collision is being investigated as the city’s 92nd fatal crash of 2025, bringing Austin's preliminary traffic death count for the year to 96. The release noted that those totals are based on initial assessments and may change as detectives gather more evidence and finalize reports.
Efforts To Improve Pedestrian Safety Near Seaholm
The Seaholm corridor, where the crash occurred, has already been under the microscope for safety and mobility upgrades. City leaders previously signed off on a $12.5 million Seaholm revamp that includes new trail crossings and sidewalk improvements near Walter Seaholm Drive. Planners have pitched those projects as part of a broader effort to make it safer and easier for people walking and biking through the fast-developing district.
How To Help
Anyone who saw the crash or has related information is asked to contact APD’s Vehicular Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111 or submit an anonymous tip to Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477, per the City of Austin. Investigators say they are looking for video footage and additional witness statements to help clarify the sequence of events at the intersection.
No charges have been announced, and APD said the case remains an active investigation. Detectives are specifically asking anyone who may have recorded the incident on a cellphone or dash camera to share that footage with the department. More details were reported by CBS Austin.
