AUSTIN, TX – A 17-vehicle collision, which involved a tractor-trailer, claimed the lives of five people, sent 11 to a hospital, and ended in a man facing several charges Thursday.
The multi-vehicle wreck occurred just before 11:30 p.m. on I-35 South, according to ABC Action News.
Austin fire crews and Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. They said they found at least seven people pinned inside their vehicles and declared five people dead at the scene: a child, baby, and three adults.
Vehicle Rescue at 13100 N Ih 35 Sb. #ATCEMS & @AustinFireInfo are on scene of a collision involving multiple vehicles and a semi-truck, with at least 7 patients involved, several who are pinned in their vehicles. Expect #ATXTraffic delays in the area, more information to follow. pic.twitter.com/iw2TENk4pV
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) March 14, 2025
The surviving occupants consisted of 8 adults and three children. Six adults were taken to Dell Seton Medical Center, and two adults to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center.
Four adults sent to Seton are recovering from minor injuries, and two from serious, life-threatening injuries. The adults taken to St. David’s were also left in serious condition.
The three surviving children were sent to Dell Children’s Medical Center. Two received medical treatment for minor injuries, and the other for potentially life-threatening injuries.
The man responsible for the collision was identified as 37–year–old Solomun Weldekeal Araya. He was charged with “five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault.”
Whether you were injured or lost a family member in a truck collision, we are deeply committed to supporting you in your path toward recovery and justice. As you give yourself the space to heal, we’ll be alongside you throughout the entire legal process. We are ready to use the resources available to prove liability and fight for your right to your deserved compensation for medical bills, your injuries, lost income, and much more. Set up a free consultation with our Texas truck accident lawyer today. Call Truck Accident Lawyers LLC at (888) 774-5836 or reach out online to get started.