Austin Woman Arrested After Road Rage Incident Leads to Minor Shot in Face

Road Rage Incident Escalates Dramatically

A woman was arrested following her alleged involvement in a road rage incident that horrifyingly culminated in her niece being shot in the face. This shocking incident took place on West Ben White Boulevard around 5:42 p.m. on 22nd January. The call to 911 described an active shooting scenario involving moving vehicles on the highway.

Upon arrival, officers discovered the vehicle in question pulled over, its front and back passenger doors riddled with bullet holes. They found the driver, 25-year-old Yaquelyn Pedraza Castelan, clutching a young girl who had been shot in the face.

Additional Casualties and Contradicting Stories

Another adult woman who had been in the vehicle with Castelan and her niece was discovered with gunshot injuries on the right side of her body. Both victims were immediately taken to the hospital for emergency medical intervention.

Post treatment, the woman shared the terrifying details of their ordeal with investigators. She claimed an unidentified vehicle had cut them off while they were traveling eastbound on Ben White Boulevard. Upset by this, Castelan, she said, had accelerated to catch up with the other vehicle. As per her testimony, she passed her gun, which was in the glove compartment, to Castelan who then brandished it at the occupants of the other vehicle.

“The passenger of the suspect vehicle put his hand on the back of the headrest of the driver seat and began to shoot out of the back driver side window,” she told authorities, according to the official affidavit.

However, Castelan offered a conflicting version of events, asserting that it was the other vehicle’s occupant who first brandished a firearm. Nevertheless, her narrative doesn’t concur with the evidence uncovered at the crime scene.

Charges and Serious Injuries

The passenger in her vehicle sustained multiple rib fractures plus a traumatic spinal cord injury. Castelan’s young niece underwent plastic surgery to treat her facial wound caused by the gunshot.

In light of these grave incidents, Yaquelyn Pedraza Castelan has been charged with Endangering a Child.

A Plea for Safe Roadway Conduct

This terrifying incident further highlights the need for calm and courteous conduct on highways to avoid such unpleasant and, in some cases, life-threatening situations. Road rage is a dangerous, unpredictable catalyst that often leads to regrettable incidents and unnecessary distress. It is hoped that such tragic incidents serve as a stern reminder to all road users to adhere to the principles of safe and careful road use.

Stay connected, stay safe and let’s encourage and maintain responsible roadway behaviour.