Austin Driver Charged in Fatal DUI Crash
A man was arrested following a fatal crash in Austin involving a motorcycle and an SUV on December 2.
Details of the Fatal Austin DUI Crash
According to the Crothersville Times, the fatal collision occurred around 4 pm at the intersection of South Dowling Street and State Road 256 on Austin’s west side.
Police say Terry G. Richards, 56, was driving a green 2006 GMC Envoy northbound on South Dowling Street when he disregarded a stop sign at State Road 256. He struck a 1985 Honda Shadow motorcycle operated by 36-year-old Michael W. Taylor, II.
Taylor was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered life-threatening injuries. He was rushed to Scott Memorial Hospital by Scott County EMS but was pronounced dead upon arriving to the hospital.
Richards was uninjured.
Richards submitted to a blood alcohol test and was determined to have a BAC over .08. He was arrested for causing death while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a felony offense.
The crash remains under investigation.
Texas Drunk Driving Crash Statistics
The following information was provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT):
- A total of 4,489 people were killed in crashes in Texas in 2021, marking a 15.22% increase from the 3,896 traffic deaths reported in 2020.
- Traffic accidents at intersections accounted for 1,037 of those deaths.
- Alcohol was determined to be a factor in 1,077 of traffic deaths, or about 24% of all traffic deaths reported in Texas.
- An additional 239,539 people were injured in Texas crashes in 2021 with 19,488 people suffering a serious injuries.
- Based on reportable data for 2021,
- 1 person was killed in a crash in Texas every 1 hour and 57 minutes.
- 1 person was injured every 2 minutes and 12 seconds.
- A reportable crash occurred every 57 seconds.
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