A truck driver has been indicted on 22 charges after a deadly crash on I-35 in North Austin that took place the night of March 14. The accident happened near Parmer Lane when the semi collided with stopped traffic, leading to five deaths and injuries to 17 others.
The details: Court records released this week show Solomun Weldekeal-Araya, the truck driver, faces:
- Five counts of manslaughter, related to the lives lost in the crash
- Two counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury
- 15 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, listing 17 people injured
No proof of drugs or alcohol: Police originally suspected the driver was under the influence, but both field and blood tests showed he had no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time, according to KVUE.
What they're saying: The driver’s attorneys believe the charges are an attempt to “criminalize a tragic accident.” Travis County’s District Attorney argued that a citizen grand jury saw probable cause based on the evidence.
Weldekeal-Araya’s next hearing is an email check-in set for October 13. The bond was previously reduced to $7,000.