See devastating aftermath of deadly 17-vehicle car crash on I-35 in Austin

6 hours ago

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Graphic content: The following article includes graphic photos and video of the fatal crash that may be disturbing to some readers.

A man who was involved in a fatal crash late Thursday on Interstate 35 in Austin has been arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail on five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two charges of intoxication assault, according to jail records and the Austin Police Department.

Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, had previously been detained amid an ongoing investigation into a collision that occurred shortly after 11:30 p.m. on southbound I-35 near Parmer Lane. The multi-vehicle crash killed five people, including an infant and a child, and injured at least a dozen others. All highway lanes were closed Friday morning and reopened around 1 p.m. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed to the American-Statesman that the federal agency had opened an investigation into the crash.

Emergency medical services treated 17 patients in 17 vehicles, including a semi-truck, according to Austin-Travis County EMS, which reported five dead at the scene: one infant, one child and three adults.

First responders transported 11 other patients, several with critical, life-threatening injuries. Another refused transport. The names and ages of the victims have not been made public.

Read the full story: Man charged with intoxication manslaughter in fatal 17-vehicle car crash in N. Austin

Here are some photos and video of the aftermath of the tragic crash.