Christmas Eve is usually a time for rushing home to family, but for one Austin family, it became a night of unimaginable loss. Joseph Capulong Katigbak, a 35-year-old man, lost his life following a collision at a busy downtown intersection, leaving the local community in mourning as the year draws to a close.
The accident happened right in the middle of the holiday rush on Wednesday, December 24, at about 5:55 p.m. Austin Police say Joseph was walking near the intersection of West Cesar Chavez Street and Walter Seaholm Drive when he was struck by a vehicle. It’s a spot many locals know well, usually buzzing with people heading to the nearby Seaholm District or commuting through the heart of the city.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Joseph with severe injuries. Emergency crews worked quickly to get him to a nearby hospital, holding out hope through the night. Sadly, Joseph passed away the next morning on Christmas Day. For a man born in August of 1990, it was a life cut far too short during a season meant for celebration.
As for the driver, they didn’t flee the scene. Police confirmed the individual stayed behind to talk with investigators and has been fully cooperative. Preliminary checks showed no signs that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. At this point, no charges have been filed, but the investigation is far from over.
Detectives are now digging into the specifics of what went wrong. They are looking at everything from how fast the car was going to how much visibility there was at that hour. The intersection is a heavy traffic zone, and investigators are trying to piece together who had the right-of-way in those split seconds before the impact.
This tragedy marks a somber milestone for the city. It’s officially being recorded as Austin’s 92nd fatal crash of 2025. This brings the total number of people killed on city roads this year to 96. It’s a chilling reminder of the risks pedestrians face, as the numbers are nearly identical to the heartbreak seen by this time last year.
Right now, the Austin Police Department is reaching out to anyone who might have seen something. If you were driving by or walking in the area and saw the crash, your information could be a huge help. You can call the Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111, or if you’d rather stay anonymous, you can reach out to Crime Stoppers. Every little detail helps as the city reflects on another life lost too soon.
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