5 dead, 11 injured after 17 vehicle crash in Texas

A terrible multi-vehicle incident involving 17 automobiles and a semi-truck in Texas on Thursday night killed at least five people and left 11 in serious condition. According to Capt. Krista Stedman, public information officer for Austin-Travis County EMS, the collision occurred on Interstate 35 southbound in Austin, Texas, about 11:23 p.m. on Thursday night.

The tragedy killed five individuals, including three adults, one kid, and one newborn, while 11 others were hospitalized, according to officials.

According to Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin police, and Austin fire, first responders were dispatched at 11:20 p.m. Thursday to reports of an accident involving numerous automobiles and a semi-truck in the 12900 block of Interstate 35 south. When workers arrived, they discovered many persons stuck inside their automobiles.

The pileup featured 17 automobiles and spanned a tenth of a mile, according to authorities. Officials claimed three individuals had to be cut from their automobiles.

According to authorities, eleven people were brought to surrounding hospitals following the incident, with five of them suffering serious or potentially life-threatening injuries. Three children were among those killed, with one suffering potentially life-threatening injuries, according to officials.

Austin police subsequently claimed Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, was detained and charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two charges of intoxication assault; he was the semi-truck driver.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the I-35 frontage road lanes have reopened after being blocked due to an accident in which vehicles were first advised not to use the route. Tolls are also eliminated for travelers going between State Highway 45 and U.S. 290 east.

An investigation into the cause of the collision is now underway and will continue.

"The vehicular homicide unit is doing their job," Thayer Smith, assistant chief of the Austin Fire Department, said during a press conference. "They're going to do an investigation, which is why the highway may be closed for an extended period of time because it is a very lengthy process."