Case:  25-1631370

Time:  9:19 p.m.

Date:  Thursday, June 12, 2025

Location:  1700 South Pleasant Valley Road

Deceased:  Eliasib Cortes Vargas, Hispanic male, 04/24/1991

Suspect (arrested):  Thomas Ajanel Chan, White male, 54 years of age

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 9:19 p.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a crash that involved an SUV and a motorcycle in the 1700 block of South Pleasant Valley Road. The motorcyclist, later identified as Eliasib Cortes Vargas, was transported to a local hospital. Mr. Cortes was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
 
The driver of the SUV, identified as Thomas Ajanel Chan, was arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail. He is charged with Driving While Intoxicated. Additional charges are pending.
 
This incident is being investigated as Austin’s 43rd fatal crash of 2025, resulting in 47 fatalities. On the date of this crash in 2024, 34 fatal crashes resulted in 35 deaths.

These statements are from the initial assessment of the fatal crash, and the investigation is still pending. Fatality information may change.

Anyone with any information should contact APD's Vehicular Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.