Austin Police Identify Motorcyclist Killed In Wreck

AUSTIN, TX -- Police identified the motorcyclist killed Tuesday after colliding with a car that was exiting a driveway.

The incident occurred on April 19 just before 1 p.m. at the 9900 block of Lake Creek Parkway. A preliminary investigation by police shows that a 2004 black Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling northbound in the inside lane of the street.

Up ahead, a Volkswagen Beetle pulled out of a private driveway westbound across Lake Creek Parkway, stopping on the inside of the northbound lane.

That's when the motorcycle struck the left side of the car. Both accident victims were taken to Round Rock Medical Center for treatment of their injuries, which proved fatal for the motorcyclist. He was identified as Claude Martin, 57.

Police said Martin had a valid driver's license to ride the motorcycle, but was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Toxicology results are pending from the Medical Examiner's Office.

Police continue to investigate the accident and ask any members of the public who might know more about the incident to call the APD Vehicular Homicide Unit at (512) 974-8255. The wreck was the 19th fatal car crash so far this year.

The collision was also an almost identical scenario from another accident involving a car and a motorcycle that occurred just two days before.

In the prior collision, a young motorcyclist was killed in the 1500 block of Grove Boulevard in another wreck resulting from a two vehicles crashing after a motorist pulled out of driveway.

That previous wreck resulted in the death of Jack De Leon, 17, who was pronounced dead at the scene. His death represented the 18th traffic fatality so far this year.