Killeen Man Identified as Driver in Deadly South by Southwest Crash
Update 12:36 PM, Mon 3/17: A third person who was hit by Owens on Thursday has passed away. According to a press released issued by the Austin Police Department, Sandy Thuy Le, 26, was declared dead Monday morning at UMC Brackenridge Hospital. Le was a native of Pass Christian, Miss. who moved to Austin to gain residency in order to attend school. Jamie West, 27, and Steven Craenmehr, 35, died shortly after the drunk driving incident occurred. Six of 21 injured remain hospitalized in critical or fair condition.
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Update 5:20pm: A press release issued by the Austin Police Department has officially confirmed the identity of suspect Rashad Charjuan Owens. Owens faces two counts of capital murder and multiple counts of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle. Three women and two men injured in the incident have not yet been identified. Police are asking that anyone with information call the APD Vehicular Homicide Unit at (512) 974-5594.
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Update 1:11pm: San Antonio Express News reports that the vehicle Owens was driving was stolen from a Fort Hood soldier. Andrew Barmwell reported his vehicle stolen around 11:00am.
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The Express News also reports that Owens was previously convicted of a DUI in Fairbanks, Alaska after fleeing the scene of an accident in November of 2011.
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The driver in Thursday morning's deadly crash at Austin's South by Southwest Music Festival has been identified, reports the Austin American Statesman. 22-year-old Rashad Charjuan Owens of Killeen was behind the wheel of a car that drove into a crowd around 12:30 am as a nightclub was emptying, killing two and injuring 23.
Austin Police have not officially released the suspect's name, nor has he been formally charged, a Department's representative told KTEM.
The suspect was attempting to evade police in a small Toyota sedan when he went the wrong way down a one-way street before turning onto another and striking several pedestrians. He then hit a moped, injuring the driver and injuring its passenger, before striking a taxi and crashing into a parked van. A bicyclist passing through an intersection was also struck and killed.
Eyewitness Video Shows SxSW Crash Aftermath (Warning: Graphic)
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