07-04-2025
Attorney for truck driver in I-35 deadly crash asks for release, bond reduction
AUSTIN (KXAN)— The attorney for the truck driver who was arrested following a deadly 18-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 in north Austin is asking for him to be released from jail after toxicology results found no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, was charged with intoxication manslaughter and assault charges following the crash that killed five people and injured 11 others March 13 near Parmer and Howard Lane.
Attorney says no drugs, alcohol found in arrested driver's system from deadly I-35 crash
Araya's attorney, Bristol Myers, also asked for his bond to be reduced to $1 in each case, due to 'a lack of probable cause,' according to court documents.
According to the toxicology lab report, obtained by KXAN, Araya's blood was tested for a range of inhalant drugs: Central nervous system medical depressants (Barbiturates), anticonvulsant medication used to treat seizures and nerve pain (Gabapentin) and cannabis. Araya's blood was also tested for alcohol.
While the tests came back negative, the analysis details from the toxicology report did not indicate whether Araya was tested for other drugs.
'The toxicology report speaks for itself,' he told KXAN reporter Jala Washington. 'There was nothing in his blood.'
Gene Anthes is a criminal defense attorney not connected with Weldekeal-Araya's case. Anthes reviewed the affidavit with initial details from an officer on the scene who did the field sobriety tests. The tests were extensive, and Araya showed indications of being intoxicated, per the examinations, according to the affidavit.
'They had enough there at least to make an arrest for intoxication manslaughter,' Anthes said.
However, Anthes reviewed witness video from the scene, obtained by KXAN, and said Araya did not appear to be intoxicated to him. Anthes added, some of the field sobriety test results could have been a result of Araya being in shock due to the traumatic situation.
'Sometimes you've got just people who just present themselves that just seem a little bit off, where, when (an) officer first interacts with them, that's their first judgment is that they're intoxicated,' Anthes said.
Anthes said it is surprising to have toxicology results come back with nothing in a person's system, after initial field sobriety test results like Weldekeal-Araya' 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
