A car plowed through an Austin, Texas, emergency room Tuesday night, leaving one person killed and at least ten others injured.
Around 5:38 p.m. reports detailed that a car had crashed into the emergency room at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services confirmed in a Facebook post. The Texas Emergency Medical Services confirmed that six people had been identified in the incident, with one person deceased on-scene, four others transported to a different facility, and one other treated within the emergency department onsite. (RELATED: Marathon World Record Holder Kelvin Kiptum Dies In Car Crash At 24)
Video footage posted to Twitter showed what appeared to be moments after the car crash as people in the emergency room were rushing to help others get out. Smoke could be seen filling the air as a woman who appeared to be injured was lifted out by a group of people. Officials could additionally be heard yelling at people to get away from the accident as hospital alarms rang overhead.
🚨#BREAKING: A vehicle has driven through an emergency room at a medical center, with multiple injuries reported ⁰⁰📌#Austin | #Texas ⁰⁰Currently, numerous law enforcement and other emergency personnel are on the scene in Austin, Texas, after a vehicle had driven through… pic.twitter.com/RyuaRbKYmh
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 14, 2024
Authorities confirmed during a follow-up press conference that the person who had died on scene was the driver of the car. Of the transferred injured patients, one child is facing “critical injuries” and one adult could have “serious potential life-threatening injuries,” while the remaining two (one child, one adult) have non-life threatening injuries, according to authorities.
An additional eight other patients from the hospital who were not involved in the incident were transported to help “alleviate some of the strain on the hospital” as a result of the crash, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services reported. The Austin Police Department confirmed that vehicular homicide is currently investigating the crash, however, noted that it appears to be unintentional.
“There is no threat to the general public. Based off preliminary information and details gathered at this time, this incident does not appear to be an intentional act. APD officers continue to assist our first responder partners, and the investigation is ongoing,” APD posted on X.
While ambulance transports are currently closed, authorities noted that the hospital is open to walk-in emergency department patients.