Austin, TX — June 20, 2025, a pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run accident at about 2:30 a.m. on the eastbound East Ben White Boulevard service road.

Authorities received a report that someone was injured in a car accident near the intersection with the service road for northbound Interstate 35.

A pedestrian, a 52-year-old man whose name has not been made public, died after being transported to a local hospital, according to authorities, but there were not any vehicles at the scene.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Travis County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a person loses their life in a crash, especially one involving a hit-and-run, we’re left with difficult questions and few clear answers. The absence of a known driver doesn’t just complicate accountability; it can also stall the deeper analysis that such tragedies demand.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? A thorough investigation of a hit-and-run should go far beyond securing the scene and collecting statements. It's crucial to determine whether law enforcement mapped out the area with precision tools, reconstructed the possible path of the vehicle and reviewed traffic flow around the time of the crash. Given the early morning hour, questions also arise about how much time and focus investigators could devote, especially if visibility or witness accounts were limited. Not all officers are trained in advanced crash reconstruction, and when that expertise is missing, vital clues may never come to light.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? In cases like this, it’s tempting to focus solely on the driver’s decision to flee, but mechanical failure can't be ruled out just because the driver vanished. Issues like faulty steering or malfunctioning collision sensors might play a role, especially in pedestrian crashes. Without locating the vehicle and conducting a full inspection, there's no way to know whether a mechanical issue influenced what happened before the driver chose to leave the scene.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Hit-and-runs make digital evidence even more critical. Investigators should be pulling footage from traffic cameras, nearby businesses and any transit vehicles in the area. Cell phone pings, vehicle telematics and GPS history can often narrow down suspect vehicles, especially if the car had fleet tracking or a connected system. Without this data, key moments before and after the crash may stay hidden.

These questions matter because every crash leaves a trail, some of it visible, some buried in overlooked data or untapped tech. The truth rarely reveals itself unless someone insists on digging deeper.

Takeaways:

• Hit-and-run cases demand more than surface-level police work; they need specialized crash reconstruction.
• A missing driver doesn’t rule out vehicle defects as a possible factor.
• Digital evidence like traffic cam footage and GPS data can be the difference between unanswered questions and accountability.