A man in his 20s was killed early Friday when a BMW rolled over near Loop 410 and Perrin Beitel on San Antonio’s Northeast Side, and police say some of the people inside took off on foot instead of sticking around.
The crash happened around 1:55 a.m. after the BMW ran a traffic light and hit a truck, according to News4SanAntonio. The impact sent the BMW rolling into the parking lot of a nearby Jim’s restaurant, where it landed on its roof.
Two other people who were in the car were reported uninjured, but investigators said the driver and a second passenger left the scene on foot. "A man in his 20's has died after a rollover crash near 410 and Perrin Beitel early Friday morning," the station reported, citing San Antonio police.
Photos from the scene, credited to SBG San Antonio, show the BMW overturned in the lot with debris scattered around the parking area. Police have not released the name of the man who died and said the case is still under active investigation.
What the law requires
Texas law is not vague about what drivers must do after a serious collision. Anyone involved in a crash that causes injury or death is required to stop, return to the scene and provide help. Texas Transportation Code §550.021 spells out those duties and makes leaving the scene of a wreck that results in death a felony in many cases. If investigators are able to identify the people who left, they could face hit-and-run charges.
Where this happened
The wreck occurred at the busy junction where Loop 410 meets Perrin Beitel, a heavily traveled stretch on the city’s Northeast Side that has seen its share of traffic trouble. MySanAntonio and city documents have highlighted ongoing safety concerns in the broader area, and officials have signed off on funding to study potential fixes on nearby corridors.
San Antonio police said they are still piecing together evidence from the scene and interviewing witnesses. The final determination about who was behind the wheel and why some occupants walked away will drive whether criminal charges are filed.
