Austin Police Identify Allison Baker, 65, Killed in Tarrytown Vehicle Collision; Another Pedestrian Injured, Driver Unscathed

AUSTIN, TX — In yet another display of vehicular violence, a driver has taken the life of a pedestrian in our community. On Thursday morning, 65-year-old Allison Baker was fatally struck, and another pedestrian was seriously injured in Tarrytown, West Austin. While the driver walked away unharmed and is currently cooperating with investigations, it is upsetting and frustrating to hear that they were not injured or impaired, yet two innocent people suffered due to their actions.

"It is heartbreaking to lose a community member in such a senseless way. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones during this difficult time."
-- A spokesperson for the Austin Police Department.

The Austin Police Department (APD) disclosed in a news release on Tuesday that the tragic incident, which occurred at the intersection of Hillview Road and Greenlee Drive, has been recorded as Austin's 51st fatal crash of 2024, resulting in a total of 54 "crash-related fatalities." This figure is a marginal improvement on last year's stats, where by August 8, 2023, there had already been 56 fatal crashes, totaling 59 casualties.

Though a slight decrease, each number represents a life lost and a family shattered. We must ask ourselves: is our current road safety infrastructure doing enough to protect vulnerable pedestrians? Are we holding reckless drivers accountable? When will our city officials take drastic action to prevent these senseless tragedies?

As we await updates on whether the driver will face charges, let this tragic event serve as a somber reminder to drive with caution and look out for one another. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and we demand justice and systematic change to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.