City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 21-2151586
Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Time: 11:01 p.m.
Location: 5801 Ainez Dr.
Deceased: Eliana Martinez, Hispanic female, born 04/10/1988
Arrested: Ricardo Vasquez-Lopez, Hispanic male, 34 years of age
The Austin Police Department (APD) has made an arrest in the failure to stop and render aid crash in the 5800 block of Ainez Dr. on Tuesday, August 3, 2021.
Austin 9-1-1 received a report of a person lying in the roadway and when APD officers arrived on scene, they discovered a female victim laying in the road with obvious trauma. Austin-Travis County EMS arrived on scene and performed life-saving measures. Unfortunately, the victim, identified as Eliana Martinez, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene at 11:12 p.m. by Dr. Escott.
Homicide investigators and crime scene technicians responded to process the scene and interview witnesses. Investigators learned that the victim had been in an altercation with a suspect in a black Dodge Ram pickup truck. The victim was seen being hit by the truck and the truck fled the scene.
On August 4, 2021, the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office conducted an autopsy and ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma. The manner of death is still pending.
On August 5, 2021, the Lonestar Fugitive Task Force arrested Ricardo Vasquez Lopez on a warrant for failure to stop and render aid (causing death), a 2nd degree felony. His bond has been set at $100,000. The suspect vehicle was located and impounded for forensic processing.
Detectives are asking anyone with information or video of the incident to call APD Homicide at 512-974-TIPS, email homicide.apd@austintexas.gov, utilize the Crime Stoppers tip line at 512-472-8477 (TIPS), or the Crime Stoppers app. You may remain anonymous. Information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.
Booking Photo: Ricardo Vasquez-Lopez: