The annual South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, has been marred terribly by multiple fatalities after a car crashed through a barricade in front of a popular music venue and ran through a crowd of attendees. Two were reported deceased on the scene, with 23 injuries, including 5 critical. Many eyewitnesses tweeted their horror soon afterward:
No words. RT @PeterSHall: This video of the SXSW hit and run really communicates just how horrible this was. http://t.co/DWrveCtQ1G
— Jordan Ramirez (@JRAM) March 13, 2014
holy fucking shit a car just sped up Red River through crowds of people
— rande kamolz (@rande) March 13, 2014
Bouncers at #Mohawk say five people hit by a car outside club, very serious injuries. #sxsw
— David Saleh Rauf (@davidSrauf) March 13, 2014
Multiple ATCEMS units onscene @ Red River/ E 10th; Report of 13 pt's from Auto v Pededstrian w/ 2 DOS fatalities & 1 CPR in progress MTF…
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) March 13, 2014
Four ambulances on the scene outside of #mohawk. People talking about bodies. #sxsw
— David Saleh Rauf (@davidSrauf) March 13, 2014
I'm witnessing one of the darkest things I've ever seen right now. Tragedy at SXSW. Outside the X show at Mohawk.
— Rhett Miller (@rhettmiller) March 13, 2014
Here's the scene outside of Mohawk right now at #sxsw after a car ran through dozens of people. pic.twitter.com/XwdspxOf3o
— Colin Kerrigan (@colinkerrigan) March 13, 2014
@rande did that really just happen
— Old Flame Records (@OldFlameRecords) March 13, 2014
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A car just ran threw a bunch of people outside of Mohawk at #sxsw. Looks like 3-4 people are down. @ap
— Colin Kerrigan (@colinkerrigan) March 13, 2014
Scene outside of #Mohawk, where a car hit a group of folks. Mohawk evacuated. #sxsw pic.twitter.com/DGAx7guwHT
— David Saleh Rauf (@davidSrauf) March 13, 2014
Dozens are in shock and crying. It appears that they're are more than 3-4 people down outside of Mohawk. Crazy scene right now. #sxsw
— Colin Kerrigan (@colinkerrigan) March 13, 2014
I'm witnessing one of the darkest things I've ever seen right now. Tragedy at SXSW. Outside the X show at Mohawk.
— Rhett Miller (@rhettmiller) March 13, 2014
Oh man. This car crash news is so awful. Mohawk is my most visited venue and a major hub for #SXSW punters. The street is filled with folks.
— Double J Mornings (@doublejmornings) March 13, 2014
23 individuals have been transported. Of those 5 are in critical condition, 2 deceased. #SXSW
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) March 13, 2014
Photos from the scene of #SXSW accident. pic.twitter.com/FU7YyjEDg7
— Sam Africano (@MotivePics) March 13, 2014
Reports are mixed, but it appears that police were chasing the driver before the accident, and he has been apprehended:
Chief Acevedo: Guy who ran over folks outside of #mohawk tried to run; APD had to tase him. #sxsw
— David Saleh Rauf (@davidSrauf) March 13, 2014
Chief Acevedo: two capital murder charges set to be filed against driver who hit folks outside of #mohawk. #sxsw
— David Saleh Rauf (@davidSrauf) March 13, 2014
Chief Acevedo: driver hit moped, a taxi and then a van before fleeing on foot and getting tased. #mohawk #sxsw
— David Saleh Rauf (@davidSrauf) March 13, 2014
Our hearts go out to everyone who was hurt.