Woman sexually assaulted along Austin's Hike and Bike Trail

Austin Police confirm sex assault along the Hike and Bike Trail after runners post accounts of what happened on social media to warn others.

"There's fear at all times that he could be anywhere,” said Vania Lanas, member of the Austin Runners Club.

Vania Lanas said several fellow members of her running club came upon a sex assault suspect Friday along the Hike and Bike Trail.

"Three of our runners were running on Friday at 5:30 a.m, and they saw the attacker running by them opposite to them and as they approached the bathroom behind us they saw the girl that was attacked,” said Lanas.

She said the runners shared the information with the club saying the man took the woman's shorts and described him as overweight, about 220 pounds, and shirtless.

Lanas, who routinely runs by the location off Rainey Street, immediately searched news sites for more information. When she didn't see it she took matters into her own hands circulating the information on social media. That's how we found her.

Nearby resident Sarah Lewis shares her concern.

"I live on the street and I didn't know anything about it till just now when you guys told me. It's alarming that there wouldn't be more coverage on it. And more of a notification system going out when something like this happens,” said Lewis.

On Monday Austin police confirmed the assault happened right where Lanas’ friends reported. After news time, they provided FOX 7 with more details.

APD News Release:  http://mailchi.mp/austintexas/apd.

Meanwhile, there is another unsolved assault two miles down the trail. Police said at 5 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 22nd, a man grabbed a woman from behind who was running on the Austin High School track and tried to put a cloth over her mouth. She was able to get away.

"I know there bike cops that come out here during the day. I would hope they would take extra precaution in a time like this and patrol the area more,” said Lewis.

While we were on Rainey Street, we saw officers driving by the bathroom. Lanas hopes more information will come out soon.

"Just for people to know that this is happened. I don't want to find out once he gets caught after he's attacked three other women I want to prevent any other incidents from happening,” said Lanas.