Austin police are investigating a fatal motorcycle accident that shut down parts of U.S. 183 this morning in the 8400 block of Research Boulevard.
Police said that officials received a call about the accident at 4:18 a.m.
A motorcyclist, whose name has not yet been released, was found on the upper deck of U.S. 183 near North Lamar Blvd. Investigators think the man, described as a white male in his 20s, was driving northbound on Research Boulevard when another vehicle struck his motorcycle and fled the scene.
The driver of the motorcycle was located on Research Boulevard when officials arrived and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he had been wearing a helmet and full protective gear at the time of the accident.
The motorcycle was found about a mile away on the east frontage road. Officials later found a blue GMC pickup they believe may have struck the motorcyclist, according to Lisa Cortinas, a police spokeswoman. Investigators are looking for its driver.
The victim was likely hit from behind and ran over, meanwhile the motorcycle most likely became wedged beneath the truck. Which then dragged the motorcycle for nearly a mile before the motorcycle either 1) became dislodged on its own, or 2) the driver of the truck finally pulled over and pulled the motorcycle from under his/her truck.
I’m betting the driver was probably drunk, and fled so as to avoid the more serious charge of intoxication manslaughter.
I just don’t know how any decent person — drunk or not — can simply not go back and check on a person that they ran over.
I hope when they catch this person, that they spend the rest of their life in prison.
While I-35 is a parking lot and Mopac is full of blue hairs from Terrytown, Allendale and Northwest Hill headed to Barton Creek Mall, 183 has always been the scariest freeway in Austin.
Hence the phrase:“Pray for me, I drive 183!”
I hope APD catches the perp.
I’ve seen this type of behavior before in Texas.
My first thought is, based on experience, the driver was an illegal immigrant, and was probably well on his way back to Mexico, before they found the truck.
One of my client’s wife was killed in a similar fashion, while riding her bicycle. She was hit so hard, that she was dead when her body finally hit the pavement. The driver had made it back to Mexico and called to say he was sorry, before they tracked down the vehicle.
As a life long motorcycle rider, never relax when there are cars/trucks around, and view every vehicle on the road as an assassin.
Hope they catch this POS.