5 people dead in massive car crash in Austin, Texas; driver charged: police

The crash was spread over about one-tenth of a mile, police said.

ByJon Haworth ABCNews logo
Friday, March 14, 2025 6:02PM
5 people dead in Texas crash involving 17 vehicles: officials
Five people are dead after a semi and car crash in Austin, Texas on the 12,900 block of North IH, 35 southbound Thursday night.

AUSTIN, Texas -- A man is facing charges after five people were killed and 11 were hospitalized in a collision involving 17 vehicles, including a semi-truck, in Austin, Texas, authorities said.

Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, has been charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault, according to Austin police.

The accident unfolded at approximately 11:23 p.m. on Interstate 35 southbound, according to Capt. Krista Stedman, public information officer for Austin-Travis County EMS. Crews arrived on scene to find multiple patients pinned in their cars, officials said.

Five people died at the scene: three adults, one child and one infant, authorities said. Eleven others were taken to hospitals.

"This incident was incredibly chaotic, and it was spread out over about a tenth of a mile," Stedman said. "We were able to get all the critical patients off the scene within about 40 minutes and, considering how complex the scene was, that's pretty impressive."

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