1 killed, several injured after vehicle crashes into emergency room in Texas
AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — One person has died and several other people were injured Tuesday after a vehicle crashed into an emergency room at a hospital in Austin, Texas, according to authorities.
The car smashed into the ER at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center shortly after 5:30 p.m.
Police confirmed during a Tuesday night press briefing that the person killed in the crash was the driver. Five other people were injured, and four of those individuals were taken to other medical facilities to be treated, authorities said.
Austin police said the crash doesn’t “appear to be an intentional act” based on preliminary information.
Photos sent to Nexstar’s KXAN show a sedan completely inside the building near an emergency room entrance.
Of those transported to other hospitals, one child had critical life-threatening injuries and an adult had “serious, potentially life-threatening injuries” while the other two victims had non-life threatening injuries, said Capt. Christa Stedman of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.
Eight patients who already were undergoing treatment at the hospital were being moved to other facilities, said Dr. Peter DeYoung, chief medical officer for the hospital.
DeYoung said the ER doors were damaged and an aquarium inside was struck, but overall the building was in good condition. No ambulances were being accepted although the ER was still taking walk-ins who would be treated at a makeshift triage area at the ambulance bay, he added.
“We’re hoping to kind of regroup here over the night and see where tomorrow leaves us,” DeYoung said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on social media that he spoke with Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, offering the state’s support following the crash.
“State personnel are working closely with local officials to ensure Austin has no unmet needs,” Abbott wrote. “Cecilia & I pray for the victims & their loved ones.”
Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool, who represents the district where the hospital is located, also released the following statement to KXAN: “I am grateful to our incredible first responders, who responded quickly to manage the scene, and who are assisting hospital staff in securing the scene and redirecting patients to other facilities. I am staying connected to our communications and emergency personnel as the situation evolves.”
St. David’s North Austin Medical Center has a 24-hour emergency department. It is described on its website as a 441-bed acute care facility that handles maternity and newborn care, other women’s health services and many other specialties, including heart and brain surgeries and robotic surgery.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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