No charges in wreck that killed radio reporter

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Police investigators were unable to determine if speed was a factor in the three-vehicle crash that claimed the life of veteran KLBJ radio reporter Barbara McCarley on Tuesday.

And no criminal charges are expected to be brought against the driver of a westbound green sedan who lost control and slid over the centerline of RM 2222 near Mesa Drive.

Police can only say roadway was slick when the Saab crossed into the oncoming lanes, striking the small KLBJ Toyota Scion, driven by McCarley. A third vehicle was involved, too. Neither of the other motorists was seriously hurt.

“On the morning of this accident, the roads were slick and there might be a contributing factor in this accident,” said Austin Police Officer Jermaine Kilgore.

Weather aside, some people who live in the area told KXAN they simply avoid the hilly, twisting RM 2222, saying it's too risky, that they see wrecks far too often.

“I was just riding with back from Central Market with a buddy (Monday) in a car. And I actually made him take the other road to avoid this section in particular,” Rob Janssen said.

Tuesday morning’s collision was severe enough to leave an engine block and debris scattered across the roadway. The police investigation closed the four-lane road for three hours.

 “It just seems like every month, every two weeks, there's something here,” said Janssenn

KXAN checked and found in the one-mile distance of RM 2222 between MoPac and Mesa Drive, Austin Police responded to five minor collisions in January 2013. Numbers for February are not out.

In 2012, they attended to 59 wrecks on the same stretch. 30 involved a minor injury, 29 resulted in no injury.

The year before that, there were 36 wrecks, 20 with injury 16 involving no injuries.

KLBJ posted a notice on its site along with links to McCarley's latest reports.