No Alcohol or Drugs Found in Truck Driver’s, Solomun Weldekeal Araya, System After Deadly I-35 Crash
An expanded blood test analysis revealed no alcohol or drugs in the system of 37-year-old Solomun Weldekeal Araya, the truck driver charged in the deadly March 14 crash on I-35 in North Austin. According to Araya’s defense attorney, Bristol C. Myers, the results support efforts to reduce Araya’s bond, which was initially set at $1.2 million.
The crash involved 17 people and 17 vehicles. Five people were killed at the scene: three adults, one child, and one infant. Two additional people sustained serious injuries. Araya was charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault, based on officers’ evaluations at the scene.
Police Based Charges on Field Sobriety Tests, Not Scientific Evidence
Despite the clean toxicology report, Austin police said the initial charges stemmed from Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) and a drug recognition expert’s evaluation conducted at the crash site. Officers claimed Araya displayed all six indicators of intoxication: bloodshot and watery eyes, mumbled speech, and unsteady balance, consistent with central nervous system depressants.
However, a breathalyzer administered at the scene showed a 0.00 Blood Alcohol Concentration. Araya reportedly told officers that he had not consumed any alcohol and that the crash occurred because another driver cut him off. Court documents reiterated Araya’s lack of alcohol consumption and noted the failure of the SFST as the basis for the original charges.
Scientific Evidence Challenges Narrative of Intoxication
With toxicology reports showing no signs of alcohol or drug use, the prosecution’s intoxication-based charges face a major obstacle. Without chemical evidence to support impairment, legal experts say prosecutors may pivot to alternative charges such as Manslaughter or Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. But proving recklessness or intent could be a steep climb.
Sources familiar with the case suggest the crash may have been the result of external factors—poor visibility, ongoing construction, fatigue, or another vehicle cutting Araya off. In short, the incident may amount to nothing more than a tragic accident with devastating consequences.
Victims Seek Over $150 Million in Lawsuits
In the aftermath of the crash, several lawsuits have been filed by victims and their families, seeking over $150 million in damages. The law firm Thomas J. Henry (TJH) is also pursuing legal action against those involved in the construction of the I-35 roadway, citing potential contributing factors in the crash.
As the case unfolds, defense attorneys are moving to lower Araya’s bond and push back against the intoxication allegations that were never backed by science. The Travis County District Attorney’s Office is still reviewing the case to determine how to proceed in light of the toxicology findings.
