A woman was struck and killed by a driver who fled the scene early Friday morning at the intersection of Ross Road and Saint Thomas Road in the Del Valle community of Southeast Austin. Austin police say the crash marks the city's 58th traffic fatality of 2026, and the driver fled the scene.
Officers with the Austin Police Department responded at approximately 6:31 a.m. on September 11 to reports of a collision at the intersection, where a vehicle struck an unidentified female pedestrian and left without stopping, according to a City of Austin news release. The woman was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased. Austin police also shared word of the crash Monday in an Austin Police Department post
confirming a traffic fatality at the intersection.
Saint Thomas Road intersects Ross Road just south of State Highway 71, in the Del Valle community. The area has become a heavily traveled corridor as the fast-developing Southeast Austin neighborhood continues to grow around the school and nearby commuter routes.
Active Construction Zone Surrounds the Crash Site
The stretch of Ross Road where the fatal collision occurred is currently in the middle of a major overhaul. The city is reconstructing Ross Road between SH-71 and Pearce Lane using 2020 Austin Mobility Bond funding, a project meant to expand the roadway into a multi-lane street with shared-use paths, bike lanes, upgraded signals and new street lighting, according to city planning documents. The same records show intersection closures and detours near Pearce Lane extending through late 2026, driven by both the bond-funded work and separate private utility line construction in the area.
A previous crash was recorded at Ross Road and Pearce Lane in September 2025. The corridor remains part of the city's redesign efforts.
Investigators Ask Public for Help
APD's Vehicular Homicide Unit is leading the investigation into Friday's hit-and-run, and city officials are asking anyone with information to call 512-974-8111 or reach out anonymously through Capital Area Crime Stoppers. Investigators have not released further details.
The Ross Road crash adds to a running tally that, despite this latest death, still points to a safer year on Austin's roads overall. The city says this is its 58th fatal crash and 58th traffic death of 2026, compared to 72 fatal crashes and 76 deaths recorded by the same date in 2025. Hoodline previously reported on Austin's traffic fatalities during 2025.
A Pattern Playing Out Across Austin's Danger Zones
City transportation data reviewed by Hoodline includes an analysis of Austin's High-Injury Network. The available material does not establish the network's share of crashes or streets, the share of traffic deaths on state-owned roadways, or which agency controls speed limits and road design there.
The Del Valle crash arrives during a difficult stretch for Austin traffic safety. The incident underscores concerns about fatal collisions involving pedestrians and drivers who flee the scene.
