Wreck Leads To DWI Charge, Driver's Death In North Austin

AUSTIN, TX — Police on Tuesday identified the man killed after being struck by a drunk driver the day before in North Austin.

The incident occurred on Monday, Feb. 10, at around 1:35 a.m. at the intersection of Rutland Drive and Mearns Meadow Boulevard. According to a preliminary police investigation, a 2009, black Mitsubishi Lancer was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound in the inside lane of Rutland Drive. The driver ran the red light at Mearns Meadow before striking the passenger side of a 2001 blue Saturn sedan, police said. Before the crash, police added, the Saturn had been traveling north in the inside lane of Mearns Meadow after passing a green traffic light.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, identified as Elmer Cortez-Reyes, 21, was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter, according to police. The driver of the Saturn, James A. Mares, 25, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident marked Austin’s 14th fatal traffic crash of 2020, police said, resulting in 14 fatalities this year. At this time in 2019, police added, there were seven traffic fatalities.