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Intoxicated driver charged in deadly I-35 pileup involving semi truck

On March 13, a devastating 17-vehicle crash on I-35 in north Austin tragically resulted in five fatalities.

The charges: Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, faces serious charges following the incident. He has been charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. He is currently detained in Travis County Jail.

  • This tragic event took place at 11:23 p.m., involving several vehicles, including at least one semi truck. The collision led to the deaths of three adults, a child, and an infant.
  • Eleven additional individuals suffered injuries and required hospitalization.

What witnesses said: Eyewitness Edgar Viera reported that a semi truck was speeding at around 80 m.p.h. and collided with the stationary traffic. The impact was significant, causing the truck to continue several miles along the highway. This observation has been crucial in understanding the chain of events that resulted in such severe consequences.

While the incident remains under investigation, authorities are focused on gathering all necessary evidence to further understand how this [pileup occurred](https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/bystanders-help-after-fatal-17-vehicle-crash/).

Thankfully, the investigative efforts continue, and updates will follow as new findings emerge from ongoing inquiries.

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