By Kelcey Caulder
AUSTIN, TEXAS (BNO NEWS) — A third person has died after a drunk driver plowed into a group of onlookers at last week’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas police said on Monday. It is expected the suspect will face new charges over the death.
Sandy Thuy Le, 26, died on early Monday morning after being hospitalized with injuries from last Thursday’s crash, said Austin Police Department spokesperson Anna Sabana. Le was one of two victims who had been listed as being in critical condition after the hit-and-run.
Sabana said Rashad Charjuan Owens, the driver of the vehicle involved in the collision, had not yet been charged in connection with Le’s death. “Right now, he is being charged with one count of capital murder. It will be up to the grand jury when it is presented to them to add any additional charges,” the spokeswoman said.
Prior to Thursday’s crash, Rashad Charjuan Owens, who is 21, allegedly fled from an Austin Police officer who had attempted to pull him over for speeding near the South by Southwest Festival. He then continued to travel at a “high rate of speed” in the wrong direction as the officer initiated a pursuit.
Soon after, Owens’ car smashed through a police barricade and into a crowd of pedestrians on Red River Street, also hitting a moped, van, taxicab, and bicyclist. His arrest warrant stated that he drove “for almost three city blocks, accelerating into crowds and [did] not use his brakes.”
The collision killed 35-year-old Steven Craenmehr from the Netherlands and 27-year-old Jamie West at the scene, while 24 others, including Le, were injured. Owens – who was also injured – fled the scene on foot but was taken into custody by two officers after a brief pursuit.
Owens, who was earlier charged with one count of capital murder and aggravated assault, was being held on a $ 3 million bond at the Travis County jail on Monday, awaiting trial. Authorities have suggested that Owens could face three capital murder charges and as many as 24 counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle.
