An overnight ride on one of North Austin's busiest corridors ended in tragedy early Tuesday when a motorcyclist crashed at the intersection of East Parmer Lane and the northbound I-35 service road. Emergency crews were called out shortly after 1 a.m., and investigators shut down the frontage road while they worked the scene.
Austin Police later identified the rider as 38-year-old Anthony Michael Raya. Officers responded at about 1:13 a.m. to a single-motorcycle crash at the intersection, according to a press release from the City of Austin. Raya was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the release said. Detectives with APD's Vehicular Homicide Unit are investigating what led up to the collision.
The crash was first reported by KXAN, which noted it is now the city's 33rd fatal crash of 2026, resulting in 33 deaths. KXAN also reported that authorities are asking anyone with video or information about what happened to speak with investigators.
How to help
Police are asking witnesses or anyone with footage of the crash to contact APD's Vehicular Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111 or to submit anonymous tips to Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477, according to a press release from the City of Austin. Video from dashcams, nearby businesses or residents, as well as detailed eyewitness accounts, could help detectives piece together the sequence of events.
Location and safety context
The Parmer and I-35 corridor is a hectic, state-controlled stretch of roadway that Vision Zero data shows is prone to serious crashes. Austin's Vision Zero program notes that state roads, including I-35 and other highways cutting through the city, account for roughly 65 to 75 percent of traffic fatalities. That concentration highlights how difficult it is to improve safety on high-speed corridors where local control is limited. Vision Zero maps and data track these deaths and the safety projects aimed at reducing them across the city.
Investigation ongoing
APD says the investigation remains active and that additional details about the crash, including whether other vehicles were involved or if impairment or speed played a role, have not yet been released. Detectives are reviewing evidence and any available video as they work to determine what exactly happened in the moments before the wreck.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call APD's Vehicular Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111 or submit a tip to Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. This story will be updated as APD releases more information.
