City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: APD Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 23-2490288
Time: 6:27 a.m.
Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Location: East 4th Street and N IH 35 SVRD NB
Deceased: Merced Junior Elizalde Cortez, White male, 05/04/1999
On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at approximately 6:22 a.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a single-vehicle crash at the East 4th Street and N IH 35 SVRD NB intersection. The driver of a pick-up truck, Merced Junior Elizalde Cortez, was taken to a local hospital. He died on September 8.
This incident is being investigated as Austin's 65th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 68 fatalities for the year. On the date of this crash in 2022, 71 fatal crashes resulted in 73 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.