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. Three adults, a child, and an infant were among those killed, while 11 people were taken to hospitals. Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, faces five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault.
The circumstances leading to the wreck have not been detailed by police, who are still early in the investigation. The southbound lanes of I-35 were closed following the crash and remained closed into Friday before reopening at about 1 p.m. The collision left the interstate littered with mangled vehicles and debris.
Police Officer Austin Zarling described the crash as “very large and very complex” at a news conference. Edgar Viera, who heard the crash while at a nearby store, tried to help those involved without proper tools to open the vehicles. He described the experience as difficult. The suspect, Araya, is in custody at Travis County Jail, but it is unclear if he has an attorney. The investigation is ongoing, and further details have not been released by the police.
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