A 34-year-old man is facing DWI and weapons charges after police say he struck a pedestrian on a busy stretch of Menchaca Road in south Austin on Feb. 20, leaving the victim with severe injuries and a mangled front end on his car.
Officers with the Austin Police Department responded around 6:53 p.m. to the 9300 block of Menchaca Road, where they found a vehicle stopped in the center turn lane with significant front-end damage and the driver still at the scene. A man with severe injuries was located nearby and taken to a local hospital, according to KEYE.
The driver was identified as 34-year-old Bijan Cyrus Irani. Police say he remained on site as officers began a driving-while-intoxicated investigation that included standardized field sobriety testing.
Menchaca Road Has Seen Serious Crashes
The crash adds to a troubling track record on Menchaca Road. The corridor has been the scene of multiple serious collisions in recent years, including a fatal pedestrian crash documented in March 2025. Data compiled by Vision Zero ATX highlights a history of pedestrian incidents along the roadway and is frequently cited by safety advocates who want slower traffic and more protection for people on foot.
Police Say Driver Was Intoxicated
After conducting their investigation, officers determined Irani was intoxicated and placed him under arrest. Police also say they found a handgun inside the vehicle. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor, and unlawful carrying of a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor, according to KEYE. APD says the investigation remains active.
Legal Note
Under the Texas Penal Code, a Class B misdemeanor can be punished by up to 180 days in county jail and fines up to $2,000. A Class A misdemeanor carries potential penalties of up to one year in county jail and fines up to $4,000. Those are statutory maximums and do not predict what any individual case will yield. Outcomes depend on the court process and any plea negotiations or trials, per the Texas Penal Code.
APD has not released additional details about the pedestrian's condition, and detectives continue to investigate. Hoodline will update this story as court filings and official statements become available.
