A pre-dawn attempt to cross Interstate 35 on San Antonio's South Side turned deadly early Sunday when a pedestrian was struck and killed in the main lanes, according to San Antonio police. The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. near I-35 South and South Laredo Street, and emergency crews pronounced the person dead at the scene. Police said the driver involved stayed at the location and cooperated with investigators.
Details released by the San Antonio Police Department and summarized by WOAI indicate the pedestrian walked into the main lanes of the highway before being hit. Officers responded in the early morning hours and are still working to determine how and why the person ended up in the roadway. The victim has not been publicly identified, and the investigation remains in progress.
Deadly incidents on the I-35 corridor
Sunday's fatal crash is the latest in a string of deadly incidents along the I-35 corridor on the South Side. On April 24 an 18-wheeler struck and killed a pedestrian on the south side of the interstate, according to the Express-News. In mid-May, local coverage documented another early-morning I-35 wreck that left a driver dead, as coverage of a separate early-morning I-35 crash noted.
What transportation officials say
State transportation officials have already targeted the busy corridor for major upgrades aimed at improving safety and traffic flow. The Texas Department of Transportation's I-35 Northeast Expansion (NEX) program calls for elevated lanes, reworked entrance and exit ramps, and added pedestrian accommodations that are intended to reduce crashes, according to TxDOT. Several sections of the NEX project are currently under construction in and around the San Antonio area.
Investigation remains active
San Antonio police say the inquiry into Sunday's crash is ongoing and that they have not shared any additional information about the victim. Authorities told WOAI that the driver stayed on scene and cooperated with officers. This story will be updated as officials release more details.
