Man charged with intoxication manslaughter after deadly crash in North Austin

AUSTIN, Texas - A man has been arrested and charged after a deadly crash in North Austin Monday morning.

Elmer Cortez-Reyes, 21, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter.

Austin police say a preliminary investigation shows a 2009 black Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Cortez-Reyes was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Rutland Drive on Feb. 10. The Mitsubishi ran a red light at Mearns Meadow Boulevard and hit the passenger side of a 2001 blue Saturn sedan driven by 25-year-old James A. Mares.

APD says before the crash, the Saturn was heading north in the inside lane of Mearns Meadow and had a green light.

Mares was pronounced dead at the scene. A GoFundMe has been set up for a memorial service for Mares and legal fees.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call APD’s Vehicular Homicide Unit detectives at 512-974-4424. Tips can also be submitted by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

APD says this is Austin’s 14th fatal traffic crash, resulting in 14 fatalities this year. At this time last year, there were seven traffic fatalities.