AUSTIN, Texas — The driver who struck a male pedestrian standing at a South Austin median Sunday afternoon admitted to being under the influence of "kush," according to an affidavit obtained by KVUE.
According to Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS), the crash happened at approximately 3:56 p.m. Sunday in the 4300 block of S. Lamar Boulevard near the Austin Emergency Center.
The driver, identified in the affidavit as 57-year-old Rene Conde, was traveling southbound on South Lamar Boulevard, approaching the intersection. A vehicle was stopped in the left turn lane at a red light. The affidavit stated that Conde was speeding toward the intersection and not slowing down for the stopped vehicle. Conde swerved his car to the left, leaving the roadway and hitting a pedestrian standing at the median.
Conde's car also hit a street sign and the base of the traffic control device.
The 31-year-old pedestrian, who was not identified in the affidavit, died at the scene of the crash. Conde was pinned in his car before he was rescued and taken to the hospital.
Police said there was a passenger in Conde's vehicle that did not sustain any injuries.
When officers with the Austin Police Department arrived at the hospital, they saw that Conde had red and bloodshot eyes and impaired perception of time, among other things.
Police said Conde admitted to officers that, before the crash, he had smoked kush, or synthetic marijuana.
He has been charged with intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree felony.
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