The hit-and-run death of a bicyclist on an Austin road this weekend was the 11th fatal incidence of a failure to stop and render aid this year, according to Austin Police.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning. Cyclist Robert Anthony Ramirez was on the Congress Avenue Bridge when police say he was struck by motorist Brian Adam Mahy:
On Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 4:34 a.m., Austin Police responded to an auto/bicyclist crash at 100 South Congress Avenue. The bicyclist was operating a bicycle southbound in the far right lane of the Congress Bridge. According to witnesses, a black Ford Mustang was operating at a high rate of speed in the center lane of southbound Congress Avenue. The Mustang then passed another vehicle to the right, placing him in the same lane as the bicyclist. The Mustang crashed into the bicyclist, then left the scene and did not stop to render aid to the bicyclist.
Ramirez was pronounced deceased at the scene. Mahy turned himself into police afterward, and was charged with second-degree felony intoxication manslaughter and third-degree felony failure to stop and render aid.
Police say those 11 fatal incidents are joined by 280 non-fatal failure-to-stop incidents. Those can include both damage to property and injuries.
The rise in fatalities prompted Austin Police to launch a traffic safety initiative earlier this year. Police have since said the push resulted in over 500 traffic stops, and have reduced the number of pedestrian deaths.
Ramirez's death was Austin’s 53rd traffic fatality this year in total, an increase from the 41 deaths that were recorded at this time last year. Historically, Austin traffic deaths range between from the mid-50s to mid-60s.
