Crime & Safety
Austin Police ID Pedestrian Killed In Buda Last Weekend
Detectives say Juan Estrada, 55, was standing in the roadway along the 13900 block of South Interstate 35 when he was hit by a car.
AUSTIN, TX — Austin police on Tuesday identified the pedestrian fatally struck by a car in nearby Buda last weekend.
Juan Estrada, 55, was said to be standing on the roadway in the 13900 block of South Interstate 35 on Saturday, Nov. 25, just before 10:15 p.m. when he was struck by a car. The vehicle, a silver, 2008 Toyota Highlander, had just exited the SH 45 ramp while the driver attempted to merge onto South I-35 southbound when Estrada was struck.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene while the driver remained at the site awaiting police.
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Police said the case is still being investigated. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call detectives at (512) 974-8544. Those with information also can submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.
The Austin Police Department noted this incident marked Austin’s 64th fatal traffic crash and the 69th fatality of 2017. At this time in 2016, there were 69 fatal traffic crashes and 71 traffic fatalities, police said.
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The incident was the second pedestrian death occurring on the same weekend. The day before Estrada was killed in Buda, another pedestrian lost his life after being struck by a car in South Austin. Police said Sean Gayle, 30, was killed while crossing mid-block along the 800 block of West Slaughter Lane on Friday, Nov. 4, at around 8 p.m. A preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of a black, 2017 Ford Fusion was traveling eastbound in the center lane of the road when the driver hit Gayle. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the motorist remained at the site until police arrived.
In light of what appears to be an uptick in pedestrian deaths on Austin roadways, the Texas Department of Transportation unveiled an awareness campaign this week dubbed "Be Safe Be Seen." The initiative aims to address pedestrian fatalities and injuries along Interstate 35 and other areas of Austin, including construction zones. The TxDot campaign comes amid a grim backdrop of 5,897 pedestrian fatalities occurring throughout the U.S. last year, including 29 in Austin alone, officials said.
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