Crime & Safety
Two Dead In East Austin Car Fire Following Crash
Emergency crews responded to East Riverside Drive and Vargas Road to find a pair of victims whose genders are as yet unknown.
EAST AUSTIN, TX — Two people died after a car caught fire following a collision in East Austin on Saturday evening.
Austin-Travis County EMS crews responded to the 6400 block of East Riverside Drive at Vargas Road around 6 p.m. amid reports of a vehicle on fire following a crash. Details were scant, and EMS officials said the ages and genders of the victims are unknown at this time.
The two occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. The fiery crash prompted the closure of several streets for several hours while police urged motorists to avoid the area.
Find out what's happening in East Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This is a developing story, and Patch will update with expanded information as more details emerge.
#ATCEMSMedics & @austinfiredept onscene vehicle ResQ E Riverside Dr / Vargas Rd vehicle on fire with possibly 2 occupants, Avoid area, MTF
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) November 12, 2017
FINAL #ATXTraffic Fatality E Riverside/Vargas Rd: #ATCEMSMedics obtained 2 DOS pronouncements on unk age/gender patients; Expect closures
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) November 12, 2017
The incident marked the second double fatality related to a car crash on Saturday alone, prompting Austin Police Chief Brian Manley to urge motorists to drive with caution. An earlier multi-vehicle crash along the 9500 block of Research Boulevard in North Austin Saturday afternoon also claimed two lives.
Find out what's happening in East Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This is our second double-fatality crash today. A sober reminder that we all need to drive with safety in mind to avoid a similar tragedy. https://t.co/012qkKMX6q
— Chief Brian Manley (@chief_manley) November 12, 2017
Traffic fatality 6400 E Riverside DR. PIO10 https://t.co/0f6Se1MCcg
— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) November 12, 2017
>>> Image via Shutterstock
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