Two Pedestrians Struck By Cars In Austin Over The Weekend

AUSTIN, TX — Two pedestrians — one in North Austin and one downtown — were struck by vehicles over the weekend, adding to a growing list of such incidents in the city.

The latest incident occurred early Saturday when a pedestrian was hit by a car in Central Austin, according to Austin-Travis County EMS medics. First responders were called to the scene just before 2:30 a.m. along the 5500 block of North Interstate 35 near U.S. 290 where they found an injured man in his 30s.

The victim was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries that were deemed not to be life-threatening.

The day before, another pedestrian was struck by a car in North Austin. In that incident, medics rushed to the 800 block of Rutland Drive just after 9 p.m. There, they found an adult male of undetermined age injured. The victim was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

Incidents involving pedestrians being hit by vehicles appear to be on the rise as the city grows with scores of new residents arriving each day in a population influx. The upward trend prompted officials at the local and state levels to launch an awareness campaign for drivers late last year dubbed "Be Safe Be Seen."

The initiative aims to address pedestrian fatalities and injuries along Interstate 35 and other areas of Austin, including construction zones. In Austin alone, there were 29 pedestrian deaths mostly occurring at night in 2016, according to Texas Department of Transportation officials.

The "Be Safe Be Seen" campaign sheds light on the need for motorists and pedestrians alike to stay visible and obey traffic laws, according to TxDot officials.

Related story: Texas Officials To Launch Pedestrian Safety Campaign

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