Austin Police ID Woman Run Over During Apparent Road Rage Incident

AUSTIN, TX -- Police on Thursday identified the victim of a traffic fatality that occurred along North Interstate 35 the previous day.

Mary Piette, 62, died after being run over in what appears to have been a road rage incident that took place at around 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 2 along the 5300 block North Interstate 35 northbound service road

. Upon arrival, police located Piette in a parking lot at the site with apparent injuries. Austin-Travis County EMS medics transported the accident victim to University Medical Center Brackenridge hospital for treatment of her injuries, but she later died there and was pronounced dead at 2:01 a.m.

Witnesses told police they saw Piette exit her car and verbally confront the male driver of another vehicle. The male driver and at least two passengers exited the second car and engaged the victim verbally during the confrontation. Police are unclear as to what happened next, but have learned that after the occupants of the second car re-entered the building, the car they were in ran over the victim before fleeing the scene.

An autopsy was performed on Nov. 2, and Piette's death was subsequently ruled a homicide. Police now are in search of the suspects in Piette's death, describing the vehicle they were in is described as a four-door sedan driven by a white male.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Homicide Tip Line at 512-477-3588 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS. Those with information also can text "Tip 103" + the message to CRIMES. Tips also can be submitted by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

>>> Image via Shutterstock