Two People Killed After Car Plows Into Crowd Near Red River Street

Two people have been killed and 23 others injured after a car plowed into a crowd of pedestrians at downtown Austin in the early hours of Thursday morning, reports KVUE. The accident happened around 12:30 a.m. at the intersection of Red River Street and East 10th Street, in front of the Mohawk nightclub, a popular destination for concerts during the annual festival. The news was first reported by the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Service Public Information Office. The area is also a location that houses several clubs. According to KVUE, who have a crew at the scene, five people amongst the injured were in critical condition.

According to Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, the incident happened after Austin Police attempted to pull over the driver of a car at a gas station located on the Interstate 35 service road. Seeing the police, the driver fled down the Ninth Street, which is a one-way street – in the wrong direction and eventually turned onto Red River Street at a “high rate of speed.” It is here that the tragedy unfolded. In his hurry to get away, the driver first hit a man and a woman on a moped, a taxi and a van before eventually stopping the car and fleeing on foot.

The two people reported dead are believed to the passengers on the moped. The police eventually tased the driver and was taken into custody. Austin Police have not yet revealed the names of the two victims.

According to eyewitnesses, the car in question was described as a grey sedan with a cracked windshield. The sedan plowed into the assembled crowd of club-goers leaving a bloody trail of injured people. Images from the scene were shared via Twitter and other social media networks.

Acevedo has added that the yet to be identified driver would be charged with two counts of capital murder. Police and emergency medical technicians immediately responded and cordoned off the area, according to LA Times. They have also confirmed that parts of the Red River Street would remain closed throughout Thursday. A briefing held by Public information officers at 2 am gave further details about the number of injured and casualties. All the events near the crash have been canceled for the night.

[Image Via LA Times/AP]