UPDATE: Arrest Made in Traffic Fatality in the Intersection of S. 1st Street and W. William Cannon Drive

UPDATE:

Case:  25-2230870

Time:  2:37 p.m.

Date:  Monday, August 11, 2025

Location:  South 1st Street and West William Cannon Drive

Victim (Deceased):  Samson Seablom, White male, 7/08/1978

Suspect (Arrested): James Preston Durbin, White male, 37 years of age

On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, James Preston Durbin was arrested and booked into Travis County Jail. Durbin was charged with Manslaughter and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

The aggravated assault charge stems from a pedestrian in the area of the incident being struck by collision debris and suffering serious bodily injury.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Case:  25-2230870

Time:  2:37 p.m.

Date:  Monday, August 11, 2025

Location:  South 1st Street and West William Cannon Drive

Deceased:  Samson Seablom, White male, 7/08/1978
 
On Monday, August 11, 2025, at 2:37 p.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a crash that involved two vehicles in the intersection of South 1st Street and West William Cannon Drive. The driver of the fist vehicle was transported to the hospital. The driver of the second vehicle, later identified as Samson Seablom, was pronounced deceased on scene.  A pedestrian was hit with debris and transported to the hospital.
 
This incident is being investigated as Austin’s 60th fatal crash of 2025, resulting in 64 fatalities. On the date of this crash in 2024, 55 fatal crashes resulted in 59 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.