Austin I-35 Crash: NTSB to talk about the examination of the scene of a fatal crash of 17 vehicles

Austin, Texas – – The National Transportation Safety Board will give an update about its investigation of a 17-vehicle crash on site, where five people were killed in North Austin on Thursday evening.

The NTSB Media Briefing is today (March 16) for 4 PM CDT with the deputy chairman Alvin Brown.

NTSB examination of the I-35 crash

What we know:

The NTSB investigators are in Austin in the accident on Thursday evening and are expected to be at least the next seven to ten days here.

During a press conference on Saturday, the NTSB investigator Kenny Bragg said that the agency will examine the design and safety of the area in which the crash was carried out, collision avoidance technology, engine carrier operation including driver monitoring, complicity practices and driver conditions.

According to BRAGG, the investigators will examine the work zone in which the crash randomly determined whether the federal standards for work zone signage, speed and driving lock closure followed.

The agency said a preliminary report should be available in about a month.

What happened on Thursday evening?

The background story:

According to the Austin police, 17 people and 17 vehicles, including a semi-trick, were involved on the I-35 to the south in North Austin near Parmer Lane and Howard Lane. APD says the first call was received on March 13 at 11:30 p.m.

The accident stretched more than a tenth of a mile that is about 500 feet.

Five people, including a child and a child, were declared dead at the crime scene; 11 others were brought to local hospitals. Two adults with life -threatening injuries were brought to St. David's Round Rock.

Bragg said that the semi-trick approached a work zone on the I-35, which had reduced the alleys from three to one and did not slower before they hit other vehicles in traffic.

The suspect arrested with I-35 crash

What we know:

The 37 -year -old Salomun Weldekeal Araya was arrested and accused of five counterparts and two attacks by poisoning.

He is recorded in the travis County prison in a collective hinge of 1.2 million US dollars.

Records show that he was due in Wilmer in the Dallas area next week to reach 63 miles per hour, where the speed limit was 30 miles per hour.

What we don't know:

Many questions surround Araya and his role in the crash.

An Amazon Prime truck was in the wrecks of FOX 7 cameras.

At this point it is unclear whether Araya was the one who drove the Amazon truck. When Fox 7 Austin APD asked if Araya was driving the truck, they replied:

“We are still very early in the investigation. There are currently no further details for publication.”

The identity of the victims was not released.

North Austincrime and Public Safety Transportation