Police ID Octogenarian Who Died After Rear-Ending Tractor In South Austin

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — Austin police identified the elderly woman killed after rear-ending a tractor trailer in late August.

According to a preliminary police investigation, a 2002 white Dodge Dakota was traveling in the middle lane of northbound Interstate 35 on Aug. 24 at just before 8:30 p.m. when the driver stuck a trailer being towed by a truck tractor. The passenger in the Dodge Dakota, identified as Frances Berry, 87, was rushed to the hospital for treatment but succumbed to her injuries on Sept. 2.

This case is still being investigated, police said. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-8164. Those with information also can submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

The incident marked Austin’s 43rd fatal traffic crash and the 45th fatality of 2017, police said. At this time in 2016, there were 47 fatal traffic crashes and 47 traffic fatalities, officials added.

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