A man is facing charges after five people were killed and 11 were hospitalized in a collision involving 17 vehicles, including a semi-truck, in Austin, Texas, authorities said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, has been charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault, according to Austin police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The accident unfolded at approximately 11:23 p.m. on Interstate 35 southbound, according to Capt. Krista Stedman, public information officer for Austin-Travis County EMS. Crews arrived on scene to find multiple patients pinned in their cars, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five people died at the scene: three adults, one child and one infant, authorities said. Eleven others were taken to hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis incident was incredibly chaotic, and it was spread out over about a tenth of a mile,\u201d Stedman said. \u201cWe were able to get all the critical patients off the scene within about 40 minutes and, considering how complex the scene was, that’s pretty impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Transportation Safety Board said it’s launched a safety investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n