AUSTIN, Texas — One person is dead and another is in the hospital after a hit-and-run in Downtown Austin early Tuesday morning.
Austin police told KVUE a vehicle hit two pedestrians at around 1:09 a.m. at East Seventh and Red River streets.
One of the pedestrians was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was taken to a hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries.
Police said the driver left the scene and continued traveling east on East Seventh Street. The suspect vehicle is a dark gray Mazda, according to APD.
East Seventh Street was temporarily closed to traffic but had reopened by 5 a.m. Tuesday.
South by Southwest (SXSW) is currently underway downtown. On Tuesday morning, the festival released the following statement regarding the crash:
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of an individual in downtown Austin following an auto-pedestrian accident that took place shortly after 1:00 a.m. this morning. Our thoughts are with all affected by this tragic incident."
The incident is being investigated as Austin's 13th fatal crash of 2024, resulting in 13 deaths for the year. On the date of this crash in 2023, there were 20 fatal crashes resulting in 20 deaths.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 512-472-8477.