The truck driver accused of being under the influence of central nervous system depressants when he crashed into a line of traffic on Interstate 35 was sober at the time of the wreck and is now seeking release from jail, his lawyer says.
The 11 p.m. wreck on March 13th along Interstate 35 in a construction zone in Austin, Texas involved 17 vehicles and left five people dead. About a week later, officials announced that the truck driver, Solomun Weldekeal-Araya, was under the influence of CNS depressants when he crashed. Now, blood tests reveal that Weldekeal-Araya was sober while behind the wheel of the semi truck, and his lawyer is seeking his release.
According to Austin-American Statesman , the drug accusations began when an Austin Police Department officer responded to the crash and found Weldekeal-Araya hiding in sleeper bunk of his semi truck, peeking his head out of the curtains. Weldekeal-Araya then told the officer that he tried to hit the brakes before crashing into the line of stopped cars, but they didn’t work. A Texas DPS officer later inspected the truck and found no mechanical issues…