Austin authorities have taken into custody 37-year-old Solomun Weldekeal Araya following a catastrophic 17-vehicle collision on Interstate 35, which claimed the lives of five people including an infant and a child. According to CBS Austin, Araya faces charges for five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault, and is being held at the Travis County Jail.
The fatal crash occurred near Parmer Lane in North Austin just after 11:30 p.m. on a recent Thursday night. Scheduled for a court date for a previous speeding violation, Araya's history of traffic infractions was confirmed by CBS Austin. Eleven individuals, including several children, were transported to hospitals, with injuries ranging from minor to critical.
First responders, faced with a chaotic scene spread across a tenth of a mile, performed admirably according to Captain Christa Stedman of the Austin-Travis County EMS. In a statement obtained by CBS Austin, Stedman remarked, "Considering how complex the scene was, that's pretty impressive," highlighting their efficiency in managing the dire situation. The National Transportation Safety Board has since initiated a safety investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Among the confusion, eyewitness Edgar Viera recounted the horrific events to CBS Austin, describing the eruption of dust and metal before seeing the 18-wheeler collide with multiple vehicles. Viera told, he saw a minor, a little girl on the floor; he felt powerless. After the crash, an 18-wheeler had a fuel tank rupture, although it didn't catch fire, and another car did catch flame but was extinguished by a bystander before the arrival of firefighters.
The Austin Police Department has yet to release the names and details of the victims, while they are still piecing together the event's full scope. In a statement to the Austin American-Statesman, they mentioned that due to the magnitude of the incident, it is likely the information will become available next week. The department also encourages anyone who needs assistance related to the crash to reach out to APD Victim Services at 512-974-5037 or via email at [email protected].
