2 Pedestrians Killed On Same Day In Austin Identified

AUSTIN, TX — Police on Friday identified the two pedestrians who were fatally struck by cars within 30 minutes of each other this week.

The first incident occurred around 6:25 p.m. at Sandshof Drive and Loyola Lane. According to police, a 2006 BMW BX5 was traveling westbound on Loyola Lane when the driver struck an elderly pedestrian who was walking from south to north across the roadway. The pedestrian was with a family member and both were standing in the center median dividing the eastbound to westbound lanes of Loyola Lane, police said in a press advisory.

The pedestrian began to walk across Loyola Lane when she was struck in the middle of the roadway. Pronounced dead at the scene, the woman has been identified as Braulia Arce Hernandez, 74. According to birth date information supplied by police, Hernandez would have turned 75 on March 5.

Previous coverage: 2 Austin Pedestrians Fatally Struck By Cars In 30 Minutes' Time

Police said the driver of the car that hit Hernandez remained on the scene to assist with the police investigation, and no charges are expected to be filed.

Less than 30 minutes later at 1143 Airport Blvd., a second pedestrian was killed in similar fashion. Police said a 2014 silver Ford Focus was traveling northbound in the inside lane along the 1100 block of Airport Boulevard before striking a pedestrian who was crossing the road from the west-to-east curb line. After the impact, a second vehicle described as a blue Toyota Tacoma thatwas traveling behind the first car struck the pedestrian a second time while the crash victim was on the ground.

Pronounced dead at the scene, the pedestrian was identified as Mauro Carrasco Mota. He was 61 years old,and police believe he was impaired at the time of his death. Police said both of the drivers involved in the collision remained on the scene to assist in their investigation, and no charges are expected to be filed.

With the two recent pedestrian deaths, police said, the fatal traffic crash count in Austin has risen to three, resulting in an equal number of fatalities. At this time last year, police added, no traffic fatalities had been recorded.

The first fatal crash of the year occurred on Jan. 4, when an elderly driver veered off the lane while traveling on South Interstate 35. The car collided with a concrete median separating southbound and northbound traffic, resulting in mortal injuries for the woman who died shortly after being admitted to the hospital. See story by clicking here.