Austin Police ID Elderly Woman Killed In Car Wreck

AUSTIN, TX — Police on Wednesday identified the elderly woman killed earlier this month after the driver in the car she traveled in reportedly drove past a non-green traffic light before being struck by another vehicle.

The incident occurred on Thursday, Oct. 10, just past 11:30 a.m. at the Interstate 35 northbound frontage road and Stassney Lane, according to a police advisory. An investigation revealed that the driver of a 2005, white Toyota Sienna an was traveling northbound along the frontage road of I-35 before making a left turn onto Stassney Lane to head westbound.

Concurrently, the driver of a 2000, brown Chevrolet van was at the light facing westbound in the inside lane while the driver of a 2014, red Nissan Altima was also facing westbound at the light in the outside lane. Both drivers told police their light turned green and the proceeded through the intersection. The front of the Toyota Sienna van struck the front left of the brown Chevrolet van before colliding against the driver's side of the Nissan Altima, police said. Meanwhile, police added, the Toyota Sienna with significant front end damage came to rest on a barrier.

The driver and passenger of the Toyota Sienna were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the police report. Ten days later, on Oct. 17, the passenger in the Toyota Sienna passed away as a result injuries sustained in the crash. She was identified as Lydia Quintanilla, who had turned 77 the very day of the crash as revealed in birth date information provided by police.

While police continue to investigate the incident, they urge anyone with information to contact detectives at (512) 974-6935. Tips also can be submitted by downloading Austin PD’s free mobile app on iPhone and Android.