Trucker Arrested After Fatal 17-Vehicle Crash in Austin, Texas

A truck driver has been arrested in connection with a deadly crash on Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas, that killed five people, including a child and an infant. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Thursday when 17 vehicles collided in the southbound lanes. Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, a driver for Dallas-based ZBN Transport LLC, was charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. Investigators believe Araya's tractor-trailer, which was hauling goods for Amazon, failed to slow down for backed-up traffic in a temporary work zone related to an I-35 expansion project. Five people were pronounced dead at the scene, and eleven others were injured and hospitalized.

ZBN Transport stated that Araya had been with the company for four months and had passed background checks. Amazon confirmed the truck was under contract for a delivery. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, focusing on the truck's mechanical condition and Araya’s driving history. Source: https://www.yahoo.com