Police ID Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run

Austin police on Tuesday disclosed the identity of a pedestrian who was killed after an early morning hit-and-run incident last week.

Police say Gary Crescini, 45, died Dec. 17 when a vehicle traveling westbound in the 3000 block of East State Highway 71 left the roadway, careening into the center median. The car struck Crescini, and the driver of the vehicle fled the scene.

Police are uncertain of the exact time of the incident, but place the event at somewhere between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

The city’s on track to reach the grim milestone of 100 traffic-related fatalities, with last week’s death bringing it just five deaths short of that record.

Police noted the incident was the city’s 87th fatal traffic crash, resulting in the 95th traffic fatality of the year—shattering previous records. At the same point last year, there were 54 fatality crashes resulting in 61 fatalities.

A police investigation into last week’s accident continues. Anyone with information are urged to call the APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives department at (512) 974-5789.