Four die after crashing, falling from MoPac off-ramp
12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015
Austin police and fire officials spent much of Sunday investigating a fiery crash that left four people dead at the Arbor Walk shopping center.
The accident, reported at 4:53 a.m., happened when a Nissan Altima crashed through a barrier on the Braker Lane off-ramp on MoPac Boulevard, went airborne, caught fire and crashed into a building containing several businesses, including Mighty Fine Burgers Shakes & Fries.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Palmer Buck of the Austin Fire Department. The victims were so badly burned in the fire, which emergency responders quickly extinguished, that’s it’s unlikely they would be identified Sunday.
Ralph Barrera
Four die in fiery crash in Austin
Buck also said it’s assumed that high speed was a contributing factor.
“That’s our assumption, to go all the way and impact the building, certainly a fair distance in the air,” Buck said. “It’s tragic.”
The car apparently was still in the air when it hit the building in its electrical services area. Emergency responders cut off electricity to the building and didn’t expect service to be restored for hours. The structure is also home to Chipotle, Mattress Firm, Sport Clips, Wynn Nails and Massage Envy.
Four die in fiery crash in Austin, 08.30.15This year is on track to be the deadliest on the city’s roadways, with at least 71 traffic fatalities reported as of about a week ago. That’s 30 more than were reported this time last year. Austin Police Chief earlier pleaded for the public’s help, saying there had been “enough blood, enough destruction.”
Police Chief Art Acevedo called the crash “Another tragedy preventable loss of life. Sad way to start day” in a Twitter post.
Check back at www.statesman.com for updates.
Fatal crashes in Austin through Aug. 19.
Update 10:45 a.m.:
Four people in the vehicle died at the scene, but it’s unlikely authorities will identify them today because they were badly burned, fire officials say.
Update 9:25 a.m.: Palmer Buck of the Austin Fire Department said investigators are assuming that high speed played a role in a crash that left four people dead at the Arbor Walk shopping center.
The car smashed through a barrier on the Braker Lane off-ramp on MoPac Boulevard and went airborne, striking a building at the Shops at Arbor Walk in mid-air. Buck said it must have been going fast.
“That’s our assumption, to go all the way and impact the building, certainly a fair distance in the air,” Buck said. “It’s tragic.”
Buck said the Nissan passenger vehicle caught fire and was heavily damaged. It crashed into a building that contains Mighty Fine Burgers Fries & Shakes and other businesses.
The last body is being removed from the wreckage now. Power remains out in the building and it will likely remain out for some time.
“It’s going to be quite a lengthy process,” Buck said.
Update 7: 45 a.m.: Austin police and fire officials are jointly investigating an early morning crash that left four people dead at the Arbor Walk shopping center.
The crash in the 10500 block of N. MoPac Blvd. (Loop 1) was reported at 4:53 a.m. Police say the vehicle ran into a retaining wall at the T intersection of Loop 360, went airborne, landed in the shopping center parking lot and caught fire. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and four people were pronounced dead at the scene.
Speed is believed to have been a factor in the accident, police said.
Power was cut to a portion of the area, with affected businesses including Mighty Fine, Chipotle, Mattress Firm, Sport Clips, Wynn Nails and Massage Envy. There was no word on when the power would be back on as of 7:15 a.m.
This year is on track to be the deadliest on the city’s roadways, with at least 71 traffic fatalities reported as of about a week ago. That’s 30 more than reported this time last year. Austin Police Chief earlier pleaded for the public’s help, saying there had been “enough blood, enough destruction.”
Earlier: Four people are dead after a car crashed and caught fire in North Austin about 5 a.m.
Traveling on Loop 360, the car was going fast as it crashed at the North Mopac intersection; it went through a concrete barrier, flew into the air and crashed into the parking lot at the Arbor Walk, where it caught fire, KXAN News reported. Investigators say there was cosmetic damage to one of the buildings as well.
APD is investigating and no names have been released.
Police Chief Art Acevedo called the crash “Another tragedy preventable loss of life. Sad way to start day” in a Twitter post.
Check back at www.statesman.com for updates.