onedef92
03-13-2014, 9:30am
2 Dead After Vehicle Plows Into Crowd Near South by Southwest
Emergency Crews Respond to Fatal Accident
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March 13, 2014— A man and a woman were killed and dozens of others were injured in Austin, Texas, early this morning after a fleeing driver crashed his vehicle through barricades set up for the South by Southwest festival, plowing into a crowd of people, police said.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said 23 people were injured, five of them critically, in the incident. The driver is suspected of DWI, according to ABC affiliate KVUE.
The two victims who died were on a moped. Many of the pedestrians were leaving a club where a concert had been held, Acevedo said.
Austin Police Lt. Brian Moon said the driver -- who has since been taken into custody -- didn't stop, even after crashing through the temporary barricades.
"The driver continued to drive after crashing through the barricades and hit numerous pedestrians before the vehicle stopped," Moon told ABC News Radio.
After the accident, the man jumped out of his car and tried to run -- but officers shocked him with a stun gun, Acevedo said.
The accident happened around 12:30 a.m. at the intersection of Red River Street and East 10th Street, near several clubs. Photos taken at the scene show victims lying in the street, with emergency vehicles responding.
Emergency workers gave life-saving CPR to one of the injured pedestrians, officials said.
The driver, whose name has not been released, faces two counts of capital murder, Acevedo said.
Following the accident, The Mohawk, a nearby concert venue, canceled early-morning events. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims from tonight's tragedy. Make sure everyone you know is home safe tonight," employees wrote online.
Emergency Crews Respond to Fatal Accident
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m111/onedef92/South-By-Southwest-accide-011_zpsa12d283a.jpg
March 13, 2014— A man and a woman were killed and dozens of others were injured in Austin, Texas, early this morning after a fleeing driver crashed his vehicle through barricades set up for the South by Southwest festival, plowing into a crowd of people, police said.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said 23 people were injured, five of them critically, in the incident. The driver is suspected of DWI, according to ABC affiliate KVUE.
The two victims who died were on a moped. Many of the pedestrians were leaving a club where a concert had been held, Acevedo said.
Austin Police Lt. Brian Moon said the driver -- who has since been taken into custody -- didn't stop, even after crashing through the temporary barricades.
"The driver continued to drive after crashing through the barricades and hit numerous pedestrians before the vehicle stopped," Moon told ABC News Radio.
After the accident, the man jumped out of his car and tried to run -- but officers shocked him with a stun gun, Acevedo said.
The accident happened around 12:30 a.m. at the intersection of Red River Street and East 10th Street, near several clubs. Photos taken at the scene show victims lying in the street, with emergency vehicles responding.
Emergency workers gave life-saving CPR to one of the injured pedestrians, officials said.
The driver, whose name has not been released, faces two counts of capital murder, Acevedo said.
Following the accident, The Mohawk, a nearby concert venue, canceled early-morning events. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims from tonight's tragedy. Make sure everyone you know is home safe tonight," employees wrote online.