City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 20-2060040
Date: Friday, July 24, 2020
Time: 12:41 a.m.
Location: 13700 block of S. IH 35 northbound proper
Deceased: Jose Martin Zamarripa, Jr, Hispanic male, D.O.B. 05-22-93
Brian Allen Tucker; White male, D.O.B. 01-06-73
On Friday, July 24, 2020, at approximately 12:41 a.m., 911 received multiple calls reporting a vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of S. IH 35. At approximately 12:43 a.m., additional calls stated that the 2017, gray Nissan Altima driven by Jose Martin Zamarripa, had collided head on with the 2003, gold Chevrolet Silverado driven by Brian Allen Tucker. APD officers responded to the collision in the 13700 block of S. IH 35 northbound proper where they discovered the Silverado and the travel trailer it was pulling fully engulfed in flames.
The preliminary investigation shows that the Nissan was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes for unknown reasons. When the Nissan and the Silverado collided, Brian Allen Tucker was ejected from the Silverado. He was pronounced deceased on scene at 12:57 a.m. Jose Martin Zamarripa was partially ejected from the Nissan. He was also pronounced deceased on scene at 12:57 a.m. The passenger in the Silverado was able to exit the vehicle prior to the vehicle catching fire thanks to the assistance of an off-duty UTPD officer who witnessed the crash. She was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.
It is unknown at this time if driver impairment was a factor in this collision.
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 44th fatal traffic crash of 2020, resulting in 48 fatalities this year. At this time in 2019, there were 43 traffic fatalities.
These statements are from the initial assessment of the fatal crash and investigation is still pending. Fatality information may change.