News Update: 22 charges filed against truck driver after deadly 17-vehicle crash 

AUSTIN, TX – As of Tuesday, a truck driver was indicted on 22 charges in connection with a deadly 17-vehicle crash that happened on March 14 of this year. 

According to an update from KVUE, the truck driver, Solomun Weldekeal-Araya, faces 15 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, two counts of Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury, and five counts of Manslaughter. All are second-degree felonies. 

The manslaughter charges pertain to the five people who died, a child, a baby, and three adults, and the 17 counts refer to the 17 people who were injured. 

The crash took place before 11:30 p.m.  on I-35 near West Parmer Lane. Weldekeal-Araya was driving a semi-truck when he failed to brake and crashed into 16 other vehicles. 

Initially, Weldekeal-Araya was accused of being impaired, but blood tests later showed that he did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the crash. 

See the previous stories below: 

News: Man faces reduced bond after fatal 17-vehicle crash in NW Austin (Published on May, 2, 2025)

NORTHWEST AUSTIN, TX – A 35-year-old man who was said to have been responsible for a deadly 17-vehicle crash on March 13, 2025, will now face a reduced bond. 

Solomun Weldekeal Araya’s bond was initially set to $1.2 million but was reduced by a judge to $7,000 on Tuesday, according to new details from KVUE. 

Weldekeal Araya was booked into the Travis County jail, where he remains, and was initially charged with “five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault.” 

Police officers thought Weldekeal Araya was intoxicated as he showed common signs of impairment, such as bloodshot and watery eyes. He also failed a field sobriety test. 

However, more recent blood alcohol tests confirmed that he had no drugs or alcohol in his system, leading to the reduced bond. Per the new bond agreement, Weldekeal Araya will commit to doing the following: 

• Wearing a GPS electronic monitoring unit for 90 days 
• Surrendering any documentation that would allow him to leave the country 
• Agreement to not operate any commercial vehicle 
• Agreeing to submit to random urine analysis for drug screening
• Agreeing to supervision from Pretrial Services

To recap, the collision happened before 11:30 p.m. on the 13100th block of North Interstate Highway 35 Service Road.The specifics of what led to the crash are unclear, but first responders said the impact killed five people — three adults, a baby, and a child. 

News: Man faces DUI charges after fatal NW Austin wreck 

(Published on March, 14, 2025) 

NORTHWEST AUSTIN, TX – A 37-year-old man faces several DUI-related charges after causing a 17-vehicle wreck with a semi-truck that killed five people and sent 11 to local hospitals Thursday. 

ABC Action News publicly identified the suspect as Solomun Weldekeal Araya. He faces “five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault.” 

Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services told the initial source that the collision happened before 11:30 p.m. on the 13100th block of North Interstate Highway 35 Service Road. The specifics of what led to the crash are unclear, but first responders said the impact left at least seven people pinned inside their vehicles and that five people died at the scene. Fire crews were called to the scene and conducted a necessary extrication process. 

Once the extrication was complete, one ATCEMS ambulance took two adults to St. David’s Round Rock and six other adults to Dell Seton Medical Center. Four adults sent to Seton are recovering from minor injuries, and two are with life-threatening injuries. 

The patients at St. David’s are recovering from injuries deemed potentially life-threatening. 

The three children were taken to Dell Children’s Medical Center. One is being treated for potentially serious injuries, and two others for minor injuries. 

Officials said an additional adult was hurt but did not want to be taken to the hospital. 

Original Story: 

(Published on March, 14, 2025) 

17-vehicle wreck with semi kills 5, ends in driver’s charges 

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. 

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.” 

If your loved one was killed in a crash caused by a negligent driver, you should be afforded the opportunity to hold them accountable. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit is an effective way to accomplish that goal and, at the same time, achieve justice for your late loved one. Our Austin-based wrongful death lawyers are ready to help you with your next steps. Book a free consultation online or by calling TK Injury Lawyers at (512) 582-2398.