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From Fox News: Police in Austin, Texas arrested a suspect Friday following a 17-vehicle crash that left five people dead, including a child and an infant.
Solomun Araya, 37, is now facing five counts of Intoxication Manslaughter and two counts of Intoxication Assault following the massive pileup late Thursday night in the North Austin area. Police said Araya is being held at the Travis County Jail.
Austin-Travis County EMS previously said several people were “pinned in their vehicles” following the wreck, which involved a semi-truck and also left 12 people injured. A police spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Araya was driving the truck.
Austin-Travis County EMS announced the victim totals on X early Friday morning, and noted that there were 17 vehicles and 17 victims in all.
FATALITIES: 5 patients (3 adults, 1 child, 1 infant) have been pronounced deceased on scene.
INJURED (12): #ATCEMS Medics transported 11 patients:
2 adults to St. David’s Round Rock w/life threatening injuries.
3 adults to Dell Seton- 2 w/ life threatening injuries, 1 w/ minor injuries
3 children to Dell Childrens- 1 w/ potentially life threatening injuries, 2 w/ minor injuries
3 adults to Seton Medical Center w/ minor injuries
1 adult refused transport.
2/2 Transports cont’d:
3 adults to Dell Seton- 2 w/ life threatening injuries, 1 w/ minor injuries
3 children to Dell Childrens- 1 w/ potentially life threatening injuries, 2 w/ minor injuries
3 adults to Seton Medical Center w/ minor injuries
1 adult refused transport.— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) March 14, 2025
Cell phone footage of the aftermath of the pileup looks like something out of a horror movie:
NEW: A CBS Austin viewer shared cell phone video that showed debris strewn across I-35 following a deadly crash involving 17 vehicles late Thursday night.
Details: https://t.co/rcMAJqyqPI pic.twitter.com/Y27PYugfCA
— John-Carlos Estrada 🎙️ (@Mr_JCE) March 14, 2025
At noon Friday, the Austin Police Department released a mugshot and details about the driver responsible for the horrific crash:
We can confirm that an arrest has been made in last night’s fatal crash in the 12900 block of IH 35.
Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37-years-old, has been charged with the following and is currently in custody in the Travis County Jail:
5 counts Intoxication Manslaughter
2 counts Intoxication Assault
We can confirm that an arrest has been made in last night’s fatal crash in the 12900 block of IH 35.
Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37-years-old, has been charged with the following and is currently in custody in the Travis County Jail:
5 counts Intoxication Manslaughter
2 counts… pic.twitter.com/osya4DFla8— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) March 14, 2025
The statement from the Austin Police Department includes no information about Araya’s immigration status or where he resides.
According to a court docket on February 27, a person by the exact same name was busted for speeding, driving 63 mph in a 30 mph zone in Wilmer County, which is south of Dallas. Just two weeks prior to the deadly crash.
— April Salazar (@AprilSa70887522) March 14, 2025
Below is another video taken after the crash:
‼️🔔 Fatal I-35 Crash in Austin: 5 Dead, 11 Injured Overnight!
🚨 JUST IN: On March 14, 2025, a devastating crash on Interstate 35 southbound in North Austin claimed five lives—three adults, one child, and one infant—and injured 11 others overnight, per CBS News. The pileup… pic.twitter.com/Uow9lSehwp
— PitunisWorld 🌎 (@ScMesab) March 14, 2025
Officials are still trying to clean up the debris Friday, which was spread out over a tenth of a mile:
AUSTIN, TX: Murderer in I-35 crash IS IN JAIL. Let’s keep it that way. Hear that DA Garza? No missing deadlines! No dismissals! This guy killed 5 people and injured many others. Enough! https://t.co/i7YXQqLsW4 pic.twitter.com/Cvzy9ZAkid
— AustinAdvocate (@_AustinAdvocate) March 14, 2025
Solomun Weldekeal Araya gets out of his damaged semi and has his first contact with Austin Police.
Keep in mind he just killed 5 people and injured a dozen more. His semi came to rest far down the street from the initial impacts https://t.co/677mGdvpzs pic.twitter.com/22Nez5oaWU
— DASH (@DocumentingATX) March 14, 2025
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