Austin Teen Killed in Drunk Driving Accident

One man has been charged in connection with a fatal car crash in Austin that killed a Hays High School student.

Details of the Fatal Austin Accident

The fiery accident in South Austin occurred in a field, claiming the life of a Hays High School student, 16-year-old Joshua Otto.

KXAN News Austin reports that the accident occurred at around 6 p.m. Monday evening in the 9800 block of Alice Mae Lane near the Southpark Meadows shopping center. According to Austin Police Department, four men were in a jeep and were believed to have been off-roading at the time of the accident.

Investigators report that the car flipped and then caught fire. Three of the passengers in the vehicle were able to get out of the jeep, but Joshua Otto was trapped inside and killed.

The man driving the vehicle, 28-year-old John Ramirez, was charged with DWI on Wednesday following the accident.

Important Information about Drunk Driving

According to the Center for Disease Control:

• From 2003-2012, 13,138 people were killed in accidents involving a drunk driver in Texas.
• About out of three traffic deaths in the United States involve a drunk driver.
• Sobriety checkpoints in Texas are not allowed.