Austin, TX (March 15, 2024) – A catastrophic chain-reaction crash on Interstate 35 near Parmer Lane killed five people Thursday night when an 18-wheeler failed to slow down for a lane merge, colliding with multiple vehicles. The accident also left nearly 20 others injured and shut down the major roadway for most of Friday.
Incident Details: According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), traffic on I-35 had slowed due to a resurfacing project by the Texas Department of Transportation, which required vehicles to merge from three lanes into one. As drivers consolidated, a semi-truck operated by ZBN Transport and driven by Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, failed to slow down and slammed into multiple cars. Among the victims were an infant and a child. Investigators are working to determine the truck’s speed at the time of impact.
Authorities arrested Araya on five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. A police affidavit states that while he tested 0.00 on a breath test, officers observed signs of impairment. The truck was reportedly transporting goods for Amazon, which has stated it will cooperate with the investigation.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: Collisions involving commercial trucks often lead to complex liability claims, especially when driver negligence or intoxication is involved. Investigators will likely analyze whether the trucking company had properly vetted the driver, whether fatigue or impairment played a role, and whether road construction signage provided adequate warnings. The families of the victims may have grounds for wrongful death claims against both the driver and his employer. Additionally, if the resurfacing project contributed to the crash by creating unsafe merging conditions, liability could extend to government entities.
My deepest condolences go out to the families of those who lost their lives in this heartbreaking tragedy.
Source: Yahoo News