Police responded to the deadly crash in the 4600 block of northbound North MoPac Expressway just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday following reports of a crash involving both a vehicle and a person riding on a scooter. The crash resulted in the major Austin artery being closed for roughly five hours Wednesday morning.
Initial investigative findings revealed the person riding the scooter was traveling against the flow of traffic on MoPac Expressway when the crash happened, according to a police release issued on Thursday, August 27. The driver of the vehicle involved tried to change lanes to avoid crashing into the scooter user, but the pedestrian also “steered in the same direction, resulting in a collision,” police said.
Officials identified the scooter user as Lee Anthony Chavez-Avera, 32. Police added the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash called 9-1-1 and remained at the crash site and is currently working with law enforcement on the investigation.
Wednesday morning’s crash is being looked into as the 54th deadly crash in Austin thus far in 2026, with 54 people killed as a result of those crashes. Comparatively, this time last year, city officials recorded 68 deadly crashes resulting in 72 people being killed.
The investigation remains ongoing, APD noted, and fatality information and initial findings may evolve over time. Those with information regarding the crash are asked to contact APD’s Vehicular Homicide Unit by calling 512-974-8111. People wishing to share information anonymously can also do so via the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program online or by calling 512-472-8477.