12 killed on Austin roads in May; traffic death toll up to at least 49 for the year

At least 49 people have died this year as a result of being injured in Austin traffic, with 12 of those in May alone, Austin police said.

The total in the first five months of the year is one higher than for the same months last year, the city's worst year for traffic deaths on record, when 120 were reported. Of those who died In May:

• Eight were men and four were women, according to police records.

• At least five were pedestrians, two were motorcyclists and one was a scooter rider, police records show.

• Three died of injuries sustained in single-vehicle crashes, and one was killed in a head-on collision, police said.

Austin had six traffic deaths in January, 10 in February, eight in March, 13 in April and 12 in May, according to police records.

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Pedestrians make up 41% of 2022 traffic deaths

Authorities this year have recorded at least 20 pedestrian deaths, nearly half of the 2021 total of 45.

Three of the pedestrians killed in May were victims of a hit-and-run, police records show.

• The first pedestrian fatality of the month was on May 15 in the 1700 block of East Riverside Drive in Southeast Austin.

Austin police were called to the crash site about 2:40 a.m. and found an injured woman, whose name has not been released. The woman was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead there, authorities said.

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Police were investigating what led the driver to hit the pedestrian.

• The same day, Austin police were called about 4:20 p.m. to the 2200 block of East Anderson Lane in Northeast Austin. Investigators say 36-year-old Simon Juan Velez's body was found at the location, and evidence suggests he was hit by a vehicle.

Authorities are still investigating.

• Another pedestrian, 47-year-old Bobby Owen, was also a victim of a hit-and-run that was reported about 3:10 a.m. May 18, according to Austin police.

Police were called to the 9400 block of North Lamar Boulevard in Central Austin and found Owen, who had died at the scene.

The driver who hit Own was found nearby and arrested for failure to stop and render aid, according to police.

• The next pedestrian crash that ended in a death happened in Northeast Austin in the 7000 block of U.S. 290 East about 3:30 a.m. May 21.

Fabiola Cervantes, a 29-year-old woman, died hours after the crash at a hospital.

Investigators say a driver was going east when he hit Cervantes, stopped his vehicle after the crash and tried to help her.

• The last pedestrian death to which Austin police responded in May happened in the 13300 block of Interstate 35 South in South Austin.

Chase Nelson, 31, died at the scene after he was hit by a vehicle, police said. The driver did not stop to help Nelson and instead drove away, according to authorities.

2 motorcycle crashes in May

Authorities this year have confirmed 12 fatal motorcycle crashes, nearing the total of 15 reported in all of 2021. Two happened in May:

• Police responded to a fatal motorcycle wreck about 7:50 p.m. May 4 in the 7100 block of I-35 North in Central Austin. Investigators said 27-year-old Christian Boutros died at the scene after he fell off his motorcycle and was injured, police said.

• On May 26, Austin police responded to a motorcycle wreck about 1:30 p.m. in the 8500 block of North MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1).

Investigators believe 59-year-old Gregory Trippe lost control of his motorcycle and fell off. A person driving a vehicle then tried to veer out of the way but crashed into Trippe.

Trippe died at the scene, police said.

Of the fatal motorcycle crashes this year, one happened in January, five were in February, two were in March, two were in April and two were in May, according to police.

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Wrong-way driver collides head-on

Austin police say 37-year-old Richard Barrera died May 23 in North Austin after driving in the wrong direction in a toll lane. He collided head-on with another vehicle. The other driver survived.

Investigators say the collision happened in the 2500 block of North MoPac Boulevard at 5:41 a.m. that Monday. It is unclear how Barrera ended up on the wrong side of the road.

Anyone with information regarding these crashes in May should call the Highway Investigation Tip Line at 512-974-8111 or use the Crime Stoppers tip line at 512-472-8477.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 12 killed on Austin roads in May; traffic death toll up to 49 for 2022