UPDATE – 2/16/24
Officials have identified the person who died after driving her vehicle into the St. David’s North Austin Medical Center’s emergency room as 57-year-old Michelle Holloway. The Texas Department of Public Safety said Holloway was an employee with its Driver License Division.
Austin Police said a preliminary investigation has shown no indication that the incident was an intentional act or a medical episode.
No updates have been provided regarding the condition of those injured in the crash.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE – 2/15/24
AUSTIN, Texas — One person died and at least five others were injured when a car crashed into the emergency room at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center.
The car crashed into the lobby shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Cell phone video from the scene shows people scrambling as the vehicle’s tires continue to spin, filling the room with smoke. The area was cleared of bystanders and hospital staff quickly began tending to the injured, a witness told CNN.
The driver was extricated from the car and received CPR but was pronounced dead at the scene, said Austin Fire Department Chief Thayer Smith. One victim was treated at St. David’s while two children and two adults were taken to other hospitals, AP reports. Of those transported, one child sustained critical life-threatening injuries and one adult sustained serious, potentially life-threatening injuries. Eight other patients who were being treated in the ER at the time of the crash were moved to other facilities.
The Austin Fire Department hazmat task force, Austin-Travis County EMS, and Austin Police responded to the scene. Vehicular homicide officers were also on the scene to investigate the cause of the crash. Officials said it does not appear to be intentional.
“We are so thankful that the building itself appears to be in good condition and there’s been no impact to operations outside of the emergency department at all,” said Dr. Peter DeYoung, chief medical officer for the hospital.
The ER continued to handle walk-ins but closed to ambulances overnight. Operations returned to normal Wednesday morning.
