City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 20-0300672
Date: Thursday, January 29, 2020
Time: 10:03 a.m.
Location: Collinfield Dr. and W. Rundberg Ln.
Deceased: Javier Elijah Garcia, Hispanic male, (D.O.B. 4-17-01)
The preliminary investigation shows that this was a five-vehicle crash. The signal lights at the intersection of W. Rundberg Ln. and Collinfield Dr. were inoperable due to a power outage in the area. A 2013 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling eastbound in the 1100 block of Rundberg Ln. approaching the intersection of W. Rundberg Ln. and Collinfield Dr. A 1999 Toyota Camry was traveling southbound in the 1000 block of Mearns Meadow Blvd., preparing to turn eastbound onto the 1000 block of W. Rundberg Ln. A 2015 Buick LaCrosse was traveling northbound in the 9300 block of Collinfield Dr. approaching the intersection with W. Rundberg Ln. A 2004 Ford Expedition was stopped facing westbound at the intersection of W. Rundberg Ln. and Collinfield Dr. as a 2018 Ford Mustang was pulling up behind the Mustang, preparing to stop.
The Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Camry and Buick LaCrosse entered the intersection at the same time. The Chevrolet Silverado collided into the driver’s side of the Buick LaCrosse and into the front of the Toyota Camry. Debris from the crash damaged the Ford Expedition and after the initial crash, the Buick Lacrosse collided into the Ford Mustang.
Two of the occupants of the Chevrolet Silverado and two of the occupants of the Toyota Camry were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Buick LaCrosse was transported to Dell-Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas where he died as a result of his injuries at 10:54 a.m.
It is not believed that driver impairment, weather or road conditions were factors in the crash. The cause of the power outage for the signal lights is unknown at this time but is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.
APD would like to remind the public to treat any intersection with signal outages as a 4-way stop.
APD is investigating this case. Anyone with information regarding this case should call APD’s Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-4278. You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.
This is Austin’s 11th fatal traffic crash of 2020, resulting in 11 fatalities this year. At this time in 2019, there were four traffic fatalities.
These statements are based on the initial assessment of the fatal crash and investigation is still pending. Fatality information may change.