A UT student died after being hit by a car near the intersection 15th and Lavaca streets on Friday.
Austin Police Department officers responded to the incident at 5:36 p.m. and EMS promptly transported 21-year-old Brianna Nichole Becker, a government and philosophy senior, to University Medical Center at Brackenridge, where she was pronounced deceased.
“We got on scene and ascertained that a vehicle came out of a private driveway and struck a jogger who was jogging down the sidewalk,” said APD Cpl. Paul Kaderli.
Becker was an avid participant in Young Conservatives of Texas attaining the position of Vice Chairman of Chapter Development. She also attended the University Lutheran Church.
Kaderli said as the SUV was turning eastbound on 15th street, out of a driveway between Lavaca and Colorado streets, it struck Becker who was jogging west.
The SUV that struck the Becker was identified as a brown Nissan Pathfinder.
Kaderli said he was not sure if the driver of the Pathfinder was alone or not. He said 15th Street is “not historically [dangerous], it’s unusual.”
A United States Postal Service employee was told to remain on scene to provide information for APD, since his white USPS truck was close to the incident.
Several citizens watched and questioned what happened, each grabbing for their cell phones and cameras on Friday. A family stood crowded about a white Chevy car, crying, not willing to give a comment.
Officers painted the vehicles¹ position on the road for the ongoing investigation. APD announced that neither alcohol nor excessive speed were factors in the accident.
APD's Vehicular Homicide Unit is seeking additional information of the incident. Citizens are asked to contact the unit's detectives at 512-974-4506. This is the 45th traffic fatality of 2009.
“Everyone be aware of everyone around you,” Kaderli said. “Drivers need to be aware of pedestrians and pedestrians should be aware of drivers too.”
