Driver Charged in I-35 Fatal Crash

A catastrophic crash on Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas, involving at least 17 vehicles, resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including an infant and a toddler, and injured 11 others. The accident occurred late Thursday night when an 18-wheeler, allegedly driven by an intoxicated Solomun Waldekeal-Araya, collided with stopped traffic. Waldekeal-Araya has been charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. Emergency services managed to clear all critical patients from the scene within 40 minutes despite the chaos and a diesel spill from the semi-truck. The crash led to the closure of all southbound lanes of I-35, with authorities directing traffic to alternate routes. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and police have yet to release the names of the victims.