AUSTIN, Texas — Newly released court documents describe a chaotic scene after a deadly pile-up on Interstate 35 in North Austin last week.
Police say the driver of an 18-wheeler crashed into stopped traffic in a construction zone, killing five people and injuring 11 others.
Investigators say they found the suspect hiding in the cab of his truck.
Late Thursday night, Kendrick Karim was traveling southbound on I-35 when he heard a loud sound.
“So I figured, oh somebody crashed behind me. And as soon as I had that thought, I saw another one and another one and another one, and then I see the 18-wheeler,” Karim said.
Police say that 18-wheeler was driven by Solomun Weldekeal Araya. Out of habit, Karim said he pulled out his phone and started recording on Snapchat. A truck driver himself, Karim recorded his encounter with Araya.
“I did have compassion and empathy towards him as a trucker. But also I was upset because we already have a bad rap as a trucker as it is,” Karim said.
Karim is now feeling mixed emotions ranging from sadness to anger and disappointment.
“Seeing the people that passed, seeing all the people that were hurt, and I didn’t get physically hurt,” Karim said. “All the anxiety, you know, and the tightness in my chest – like I just see my work trucks as a weapon in a missile right now, as the same as I saw it plowing through everybody.”
Araya is now facing five charges of intoxication manslaughter for each of the people killed and two charges of intoxication assault. Karim says the family of the people who passed have reached out to him.
“They said they were able to get closure from seeing what happened because nobody wanted to tell them what happened,” Karim said.
But Karim is now left doubting if he will ever find closure.
“I don’t think I’ll be the same,” Karim said. “I can’t stop seeing what happened and I can’t stop feeling guilty that I’m here and they’re not.”
According to court documents, police believe the suspect was under the influence of CNS depressants, which can slow down brain activity. They are often used as sedatives to treat sleep disorders or mental health conditions.