by Samantha Smith

A Buda man was arrested Friday after authorities claim he rammed into the side of an off-duty Austin Police officer’s vehicle on Interstate 35 near the Robert S. Light overpass. 

Authorities arrested Christopher Marcus Williams, 28, of Buda, who was charged with aggravated assault against a public servant, which is a first-degree felony. Bond has not been set for Williams at this time, according to Hays County Jail records. 

Friday’s incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. when Austin Police officer Lando Hall, who was returning home to Buda, observed Williams traveling eastbound on FM 967 and driving recklessly, according to a Buda press release. Hall activated his lights and sirens, turning around to pursue Williams and pull him over. 

Hall lost sight of Williams’ vehicle at the FM 967 and Main Street intersection. He later spotted Williams getting on southbound I-35 at the 220 entrance ramp in Buda. 

According to the release, Williams rammed the side of Hall’s vehicle, which was marked according to an arrest affidavit, on southbound I-35 near the Robert S. Light overpass. The collision caused Hall’s vehicle to crash into the center divider.

Hall observed that Williams continued driving across the median and crashed on the access road of I-35. 

Hall was uninjured in the accident, but Williams was sent to Brackenridge Hospital.

According to the arrest affidavit, Williams told an officer he “made a mistake” by striking the APD unit with his vehicle. Williams also told an officer he did not stop and lost control of his vehicle before crashing into a guardrail. 

It is unknown at this time if drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident.