Police ID Woman Who Died After Car Fell From Icy S. Austin Bridge

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — Police have identified the passenger who died last week after the driver of the vehicle she was in lost control and plunged 30 feet from an overpass.

Eva Marie Gonzales, 56, died after after the 2003 Ford Ranger that was traveling eastbound along 1500 W. Slaughter Lane lost control from the middle lane and veered to his right, resulting in the vehicle jumping over the south curb and rolling over a guardrail/chain link fence — plunging 30 feet to the ground below.

The Jan. 16 traffic fatality occurred around 5:15 p.m. Just over half-an-hour later, Gonzales was pronounced dead. She would have turned 57 years old on Monday, the same day that police updated the case, according to the date of birth provided in the press briefing.

Previous story: Woman Dies After Car Plunges From Icy S. Austin Bridge (Updated)

The driver, Kenneth Odeal Craig, 59, was transported to St. David's South Austin Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Initial reports by Austin-Travis County EMS medics had indicated a man had died in the crash before the Austin Police Department corrected the details on Monday.

Ice that had accumulated on the bridge the Tuesday of the crash during several days of frigid, sub-zero temperatures in Central Texas. Investigators have since attributed the fatal accident to the icy patches on the roadway that caused the driver to lose control of his vehicle.

This case is still being investigated. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-5594. 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 second fatal traffic crash of 2018, resulting in three fatalities this year. At this time in 2017, there were five fatal traffic crashes and five traffic fatalities.

>>> Image via Shutterstock