A Sunday evening drive on FM 969 in East Austin ended in tragedy when a two-vehicle crash left a 20-year-old driver dead and sent two other people to area hospitals, authorities said. Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the scene and have opened an investigation into the deadly collision.
Crash Details and Response
According to KEYE/CBS Austin, troopers were called to FM 969 near Imperial Drive around 6:30 p.m. A red Dodge truck crashed into the rear right side of a white Ford F-150 and then rolled over. The driver of the Dodge, Rene Rodriguez Herrera Jr., 20, of Austin, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other occupants of the Dodge were transported to a local hospital for treatment, officials said. The Texas Department of Public Safety has confirmed that the crash remains under active investigation.
FM 969 Safety and Local Context
FM 969 has been under the microscope for years as traffic along the corridor has increased and safety concerns have grown. City and state planning documents have recommended adding turn lanes and improving the intersection at Imperial Drive, according to a City of Austin study. Vision Zero Austin, the city’s traffic-safety initiative, notes that a large share of deadly crashes occur on state-managed roads and points to engineering and enforcement strategies aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries. Those recommendations have shaped targeted intersection projects, but local planners contend that more work is still needed to cut down on severe crashes along FM 969.
Investigation and Next Steps
Troopers told KEYE/CBS Austin that the crash remains under investigation and that officials have not released further details about the conditions of the injured passengers. DPS customarily provides additional information after completing crash reconstructions or once next of kin notifications are finalized. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the collision to contact the Texas Department of Public Safety.
