Car hits car into Austin house; Driver, 17, begins chain reaction while retrieving cellphone

Published 9:50 am Thursday, November 30, 2017

Two drivers were transported to Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin after a crash Wednesday that caused one vehicle to strike a house.

According to Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger, officers responded to an accident call at 5:11 p.m. at the intersection of Ninth Avenue Southwest and 10th Street Southwest.

A burgundy 2013 Ford Taurus, driven by a 17-year-old woman, was going south on 10th Street Southwest when it stopped at the stoplight at the intersection. Her cellphone fell onto the floor. She went to retrieve it and drifted into the intersection, striking a blue 1998 Ford Taurus, driven by a 32-year-old man, going west on Ninth Avenue Southwest. The impact forced the 1998 Ford Taurus off the road, where it struck a house in the 1100 block of Ninth Avenue Southwest.

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No one in the house was hurt, but minor to moderate damage was done to the house.

Both drivers were transported to Mayo Clinic Health System by private vehicles. The vehicles, both with deployed airbags, were towed from the site.

The 17-year-old was cited for having no driver’s license and for failing to yield at an intersection.