Police ID 88-Year-Old Traffic Fatality Victim In North Austin Wreck

NORTH AUSTIN, TX -- Police on Monday identified the 88-year-old man killed last week in a North Austin traffic accident.

Born in 1928, William Barnet was killed an Aug. 23 accident that occurred when the car in which he was riding was struck by another vehicle.

According to a preliminary police investigation, a Honda Accord was traveling westbound in the 2400 block of West Anderson Lane, attempting to make a U-turn to proceed eastbound on the same street. Simultaneously, the driver of a Volkswagen Touareg was exiting a driveway on the south curb line of Anderson Lane, striking the Honda. The impact caused the Honda to crash onto a utility pole.

Both occupants of the Honda were taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge hospital, where Barnet died three days later.

Police said the case is still under investigation. Members of the public with information that might be helpful to detectives are urged to call the Austin Police Department at (512) 974-5576. Tips also can be submitted by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

Police noted the accident represented the city's 45th fatal traffic crash and 45th fatality of 2016. At this time in 2015, there were 66 traffic fatalities in Austin.