Family of Austin traffic fatality victim wants APD to do more

On Wednesday night, Katie Dailey shared her sister's story during a candlelight vigil at Austin City Hall for the 81 victims of traffic fatalities this year -- a number that nearly surpasses the year record for the city.

The vigil was put together by a group called Vision Zero ATX.

"Our vision is to have zero traffic fatalities or serious injuries in Austin.  And that's something that isn't a silver bullet solution.  It involves an all-hands-on-deck approach," said Nick Moe with Vision Zero.

We spoke with Dailey and her mother earlier in the day about Katie's little sister -- 26-year-old Natalie Dailey.

"She was involved with CPS.  She was a teacher.  It was always about other people...taking care of them...making sure everything was right for them," Dailey said.

Dailey says Natalie was riding on the back of a motorcycle on August 16th near UMC Brackenridge.  Dailey says according to the police report given to her by the department, the other driver failed to yield right of way and ran into the motorcycle.  The driver of the motorcycle lost his leg.  Natalie was killed.  She says neither were wearing helmets.

"There was an open container and a child in the car of the people that hit them...and so far no charges have been made," Dailey said.

Dailey and her mother say no one contacted them about Natalie's death until the next day.

And then, she says the communication with APD about what happened to her sister was still not good.

"You know it's hard to get ahold of somebody that's willing to talk to you.  You know I felt like I was being treated like a criminal...like I had done something wrong when I was inquiring," she said.

Dailey says the detective told her no one was tested for alcohol at the scene..

"At that point she told me the open container and my sister lying on the side of the road was not probable cause enough to test him for that," Dailey said.

Dailey and her mother just want answers -- and some changes.

"I'm not asking for people to go to jail for killing my sister.  I'm just asking for the proper steps and policies and protocol to all be followed with every single accident, ticket," she said.

Fox 7 did reach out to Austin Police to confirm Dailey's side of the story.  They said the incident is still an active and open investigation and they can't discuss any details.

According to APD's breakdown of this year's traffic fatalities from January to August:
 

  • 55% of vehicle fatalities involved impairment.
  • 42% happened between midnight and 5 am.
  • 36% of motorcycle fatalities involved impairment and 45% of motorcycle fatalities involved speeding.

Mayor Adler spoke at tonight's candlelight vigil.
  
Tomorrow city council will actually be voting to adopt "Vision Zero" as a goal of theirs.
  
When asked if zero fatalities was a lofty goal, Adler says it is the only goal.