A man in Austin, Texas, was charged with intoxication manslaughter after a late-night wreck on Interstate 35 that killed five people and injured several others. The crash involved 17 vehicles and occurred just before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. Three adults, a child, and an infant were among the fatalities, while 11 people were taken to hospitals.
Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, was charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault after the crash. He was in custody in Travis County Jail, but it was unclear if he had an attorney. The police have not disclosed details about the circumstances that led to the accident, as the investigation is ongoing.
The southbound lanes of I-35 were closed following the crash and remained closed until about 1 p.m. the next day. The collision left the interstate covered in wreckage and debris, making it a challenging scene for first responders to navigate. Witness Edgar Viera reported hearing the crash and rushing to help those involved, but struggled to assist due to a lack of proper tools. Despite their efforts, the tragedy was difficult for him and others to witness.
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