Police ID Man Killed After Slamming Truck Into Pole, Tree

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX -- Police have identified the motorist who died after driving the pickup truck he was driving into a utility pole last Friday.

The dead motorist was identified as Santos Felipe Garcia, who was 20 years old. Two of his passengers were hospitalized for treatment of their injuries.

A police investigation reveals that a Ford F-150 pickup truck traveling northbound in the 3200 block of Burleson Road -- a stretch of roadway that curves -- left the street for unknown reasons, striking a utility pole and then a tree.

Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene, while Austin-Travis County EMS medics had to extricate the two passengers from the mangled vehicle.

Police say the significant damage to the driver's side door suggests excessive speed likely played a role in the crash. A toxicology test is pending to determine if the driver was impaired at the time of the wreck.

Police continue to investigate the incident, and ask for members of the public with any information to contact them. Those with information can call detectives at (512) 974-5576.

Police noted this was the 23rd traffic fatality in Austin so far this year.

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From May 6:

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX -- A young man died Friday night when his car crashed into a tree in southeast Austin, according to emergency officials.

Austin-Travis County EMS officials said the man, believed to be in his 20s, died after striking a tree in the 3100 block of Burleson Road. The crash occurred around midnight on Friday.

Medics had to extricate two other male passengers from the car, they said via Twitter. Both men sustained serious injuries, and were taken to separate hospitals -- St. David's South Austin Medical Center and to University Medical Center Brackenridge.