Officer Abel Garza Hospitalized after Interstate 35 Crash in Austin

Austin, Texas (September 2, 2019) – A police officer was injured Sunday morning in a hit-and-run DUI crash in Austin, authorities said.

The accident happened just after midnight Sunday, September 1 in the 4400 block of southbound Interstate 35.

According to a local news source, police officers were blocking lanes and had their emergency lights on their motorcycles. As workers moved barricades from the highway, a dark-coloured sedan hit from behind one of the motorcycles.

The driver of the sedan to did not stop and fled the scene.

Emergency crews along with other police officers responded to the scene and found one of the officers injured. The victim, identified as Officer Abel Garza, was immediately taken to the local hospital for treatment.

The sedan driver was later located and arrested by authorities. The suspected, identified as Jose Hernandez Garcia, was charged with failure to stop and render aid. He also admitted to being under the influence when the accident happened.

An investigation into the accident is underway.