Austin police are trying to track down a driver after an early morning hit-and-run on State Highway 71 near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport left a pedestrian dead and a lot of unanswered questions.
The crash happened around 2:14 a.m. Tuesday in the 3100 block of the eastbound lanes. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say two vehicles hit the person, but only one of those drivers stuck around.
According to what the Austin Police Department told KVUE, the first vehicle to strike the pedestrian took off before officers arrived. The second driver stayed behind and is cooperating with detectives. Investigators were out on the shoulder of SH 71 in the early hours of Tuesday, working the scene and collecting evidence as part of an active investigation.
How To Help The Investigation
The City of Austin is asking anyone who knows anything about what happened to contact APD's Vehicular Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111. Tipsters can also reach Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477 or submit information anonymously online through Austin Crime Stoppers.
Where This Crash Fits In
This deadly collision has been reported as Austin's 14th fatal crash of 2026, adding to what has already been a troubling year on local roads, according to KVUE. State Highway 71 near the airport has seen several serious crashes in recent years, data from safety tracker Vision Zero ATX shows, keeping the corridor on the radar for ongoing traffic safety concerns.
Investigation Status
Detectives say they are reviewing witness accounts and checking any available video from the area around 2:14 a.m. to identify the vehicle and driver that left the scene. Anyone who saw the crash or has dashcam or security footage from that stretch of SH 71 is urged to call the numbers above or submit a tip online so investigators can follow up.
