3 dead, 4 injured following 2-vehicle crash on FM 973

Three people died early morning Saturday following a two-vehicle crash in eastern Travis County, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three people died early morning Saturday following a two-vehicle crash in eastern Travis County, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.

ATCEMS said it responded to the crash at approximately 2:25 a.m. near Farm-to-Market 973 and Platt Lane, and four ambulances and STAR Flight were at the scene.

At the crash site, medics found one person entrapped with critical injuries and three patients with non-life-threatening injuries.

The critical patient was taken to the hospital by STAR Flight, and ATCEMS confirmed three patients died at the scene. The three other patients were also taken to the hospital.

KXAN reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety for more information.

Since 2019, there have been more than 230 crashes, 60 of which were in 2023, along the nearly five-mile stretch of FM 973 from Steger Lane to U.S. Highway 290, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System.

TxDOT confirmed it began conducting a speed study on the road, but it is expected to take several months to complete.

“An environmental study is also underway for FM 973 from U.S. [Highway] 79 to U.S. 290, which will focus on safety enhancements and mobility improvements along the corridor,” a TxDOT spokesperson said. “It’s important to note, TxDOT also reminds drivers to make smart decisions behind the wheel, including driving to conditions, obeying the speed limit, avoiding distractions, never drinking and driving and always buckling up.”