SXSW: 2 Killed, 23 Injured at Austin Music Festival

A suspected drunk driver fleeing police plowed his car through a crowd of people early Thursday morning at the South by Southwest Music and Film Festival, killing two and injuring 23.

According to Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, at around 12:30am officers initially tried to pull over a Toyota sedan at a gas station on an I-35 service road.  The driver refused to pull over and fled in the wrong direction down a one-way street before smashing through a police barricade and turning onto Red River Street.  A crowd of fans were anxiously waiting in line in front of Mohawk nightclub when the driver drove through the crowd.  He hit dozens of pedestrians before striking a couple on a motorized scooter, killing both on board.  The driver then struck a taxi and crashed into a parked van.

After the crash, the driver attempted to flee on foot before being stunned with a Taser by police.  Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said that the man will face two counts of capital murder, in addition to numerous other charges.  The driver’s name has not yet been released to the public, but Acevedo said more information will become available throughout the day.