Austin, Texas – A tragic incident unfolded as a vehicle crashed into the emergency room at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, leading to the death of one person and injuries to at least five others, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene following a call at 5:38 p.m. local time.
At the briefing held on Tuesday evening, Austin’s EMS Chief Robert Luckritz revealed that emergency responders found five individuals at the site, with the driver pronounced dead after sustained efforts to save her. Two children and two adults were rushed to nearby hospitals, with one child and one adult listed in critical condition.
The individual identified as the driver of the sedan was named Michell Holloway by the Austin Police Department on Wednesday. They emphasized that there is no current indication of the incident being intentional or stemming from a medical episode, as investigations continue.
Dr. Peter DeYoung, the Chief Medical Officer at the hospital, mentioned that four of the injured individuals were in the ER lobby during the crash, while a fifth person received treatment on-site. Subsequently, eight individuals originally under care at the medical facility were also transferred to nearby hospitals for further assistance.
Despite uncertainties surrounding the cause of the crash, law enforcement authorities are actively conducting inquiries to determine the circumstances leading to the tragic event. The Austin Police Department reinforced that there is no perceived danger to the general public based on preliminary assessments.
Additional support has been extended by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, with state resources mobilized to address any unmet needs in the wake of the incident. Furthermore, Dr. DeYoung reassured that the facility remains structurally sound, with minimal impact on operations beyond the emergency department, which will be temporarily closed to ambulances overnight.
The community has been left shaken by the unforeseen tragedy, prompting a collaborative response from both local and state officials to ensure comprehensive support and thorough investigations into the incident.