Crime & Safety
Woman Dies After Car Plunges From Icy S. Austin Bridge (Updated)
Accumulated ice on bridge is blamed as Austin deals with sub-freezing temperatures that have resulted in ice and sleet.
SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — A woman was killed Tuesday afternoon after the vehicle she was traveling in plunged 30 feet from an icy overpass.
Austin-Travis County EMS crews were called to the 1500 block of West Slaughter Lane at around 5:15 p.m., just east of Manchaca Road. Accumulated ice on the bridge was blamed for the traffic incident that left a 56-year-old woman dead and the driver critically injured. The latter was rushed to St. David's South Austin Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
The overpass that's located over railroad tracks was closed off to traffic as an investigation into the crash continues. Drivers are urged to find an alternative route to and from their destinations.
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FINAL #ATXTraffic Fatality ~1500 W Slaughter Ln: Vehicle Rescue; vehicle off bridge; fell ~30+ft; possibly due to icing (not confirmed) ~40s male critical injuries transported St David's South Austin Medical Center; ~30-40s male pronounced Deceased on Scene. Expect closures
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) January 16, 2018
>>> Image via Shutterstock
Editor's note: The gender of the deceased person was changed after a modified police report issued on Jan. 22, 2018.
Find out what's happening in South Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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