Woman Arrested in South Austin Fatal Hit-and-Run Incident

In a tragic hit-and-run incident in South Austin, a 34-year-old woman named Julie K. Kotrla has been arrested after allegedly striking pedestrian Tony Almanza, who later died from his injuries. The incident occurred on Thursday night around 10:08 p. m. on South Congress Avenue, where witnesses reported seeing a white Jeep Cherokee briefly stop before driving away.

Kotrla was later located, and while she acknowledged hitting a person, she claimed she thought the individual had fled. However, police found damage on her vehicle that corroborated the collision, including a broken windshield and a dented hood. Kotrla did not contact emergency services after the incident, stating her phone was unreachable, despite police affirming that all mobile phones can dial 911 without service. She is currently facing charges of Collision Causing Death and is being held on surety. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to gather evidence and witness statements.