Austin police have identified a man who tragically lost his life over the weekend after being struck by a vehicle while riding a scooter in downtown Austin. The incident occurred shortly before midnight Saturday at the intersection of East 11th Street and San Jacinto Boulevard. The victim, 33-year-old Khaled Saadeddine, was discovered with life-threatening injuries and was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where he passed away on Sunday.
Authorities indicated that the vehicle involved in the incident fled the scene. As of Wednesday, no arrests have been made, and the police have yet to identify the vehicle responsible for the hit-and-run. In an effort to gather more information and locate the driver, the Austin Police Department is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for tips leading to an arrest. Individuals with information are encouraged to contact the Police Department’s Vehicular Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Capital Area Crime Stoppers at AustinCrimeStoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.
This tragic event marks the 78th traffic fatality in Austin this year, contributing to a grim total of 82 traffic deaths. Fatal accidents involving scooters are relatively uncommon in the city, with an average of one such incident reported annually. A previous similar case occurred in July when a man was found dead following a presumed scooter accident near the University of Texas campus.
The community is urged to come together to help authorities find those responsible for this incident, highlighting the importance of road safety and accountability for drivers.