What started as a routine rideshare trip on San Antonio’s Northwest Side turned tragic Saturday afternoon when an Uber driver reportedly hit the gas instead of the brake, killing a woman in her mid-30s. First responders were called around 1:09 p.m. to the intersection of West Quill Drive and Bandera Road, where officers say the woman, who was standing at the corner holding an advertising sign, was struck and later pronounced dead. Police said the driver had a passenger at the time and that, at this point, they are not treating the case as criminal.
Police: Driver thought he hit the brake
According to WOAI, officers at the scene said the Uber driver had been traveling along Quill with a passenger when he tried to turn onto Bandera. He reportedly told police he believed he was pressing the brake pedal but instead accelerated into the intersection, hitting the woman on the corner. Emergency medical crews pronounced her dead at the scene, and officers told reporters they do not see any criminal elements in the crash at this time.
Turning movements and busy roads raise risks
Traffic-safety reviews have long warned that turning vehicles and higher-speed corridors make intersections especially dangerous for people on foot. The San Antonio district Pedestrian Safety Action Plan from TxDOT highlights that pattern and calls for targeted fixes such as improved lighting and pedestrian beacons at problem spots. A peer-reviewed analysis of local crash data published in the journal Sustainability likewise found that pedestrian crashes often cluster at a handful of high-risk locations and frequently involve vehicles making turns, a reminder of how a split-second mistake behind the wheel can be deadly.
Investigation and next steps
San Antonio police say investigators will continue to scrutinize the driver’s actions and interview witnesses as they complete the official crash report. For now, officers have reiterated that the incident does not appear to be criminal. The victim’s name has not been released, and the department did not immediately share further information with media outlets, according to WOAI.
