A fatal crash on Sunday morning shut down all northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 183 near McCall Lane, throwing traffic into chaos around Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Emergency crews and Austin police responded to the scene, and authorities confirmed at least one person was killed in the collision.
Officers and first responders arrived shortly before 9:45 a.m. and immediately closed the northbound lanes so investigators and cleanup crews could work, according to FOX 7 Austin. The highway was expected to stay shut for several hours while the scene was processed.
Police and traffic response
The Austin Police Department said on social media that "APD Officers & Emergency crews are on scene working a fatality vehicle collision on S. US Hwy 183 NB near McCall Lane" and warned drivers that northbound traffic would be diverted at the McCall Lane southbound turnaround, according to MySA. Drivers were urged to avoid the stretch of 183 while crews handled the wreckage and collected evidence.
What investigators say
FOX 7 Austin reports that investigators have not yet released how many vehicles were involved, what might have led to the crash, or the identities of those involved. Detectives from APD's collision investigation unit remained on scene, working through the evidence before the highway could safely reopen.
Airport traffic and delays
Traffic data showed major slowdowns as drivers were pushed onto frontage roads and the McCall Lane turnaround. MySA reports that Sigalert recorded speeds of about 20 mph in the area. Travelers heading to or from Austin-Bergstrom were urged to budget extra time and consider alternate routes while the closure remained in effect.
Local context
This latest shutdown adds to a string of serious crashes that have recently clogged Austin's major arteries. Earlier this month, a separate collision closed southbound MoPac near U.S. 183 and left one person dead, according to Spectrum News Austin. Those incidents have repeatedly sparked long backups and renewed calls for extra caution on the city's busiest corridors.
The Austin Police Department says the U.S. 183 crash investigation is ongoing and that more details will be released when available. Officials say updates will likely appear through local news outlets and APD's official channels once investigators wrap up their work.
