News Summary
A multi-vehicle crash on the southbound lanes of I-35 in North Austin caused significant traffic disruptions. The accident occurred around 9:15 p.m., leading to the closure of both southbound lanes. While the northbound lanes were reopened soon after, drivers were advised to expect delays and consider alternate routes. This incident comes amid ongoing legal issues surrounding multiple vehicle crashes in the area, raising concerns about road safety.
Austin, Texas – Major traffic disruptions occurred on the southbound lanes of I-35 in North Austin following a multi-vehicle crash Thursday night. The accident took place around 9:15 p.m. in the 12700 block of N Interstate 35, near Parmer Lane and Tech Ridge Boulevard. As a result, both southbound lanes of the highway were effectively closed to traffic.
While the Austin Police Department has not disclosed the exact number of vehicles involved in the collision, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) confirmed that all lanes in both directions were previously affected by another crash. After some time, the northbound lanes were reopened around 10:20 p.m. but the southbound lanes remained shut down.
Current reports have yet to clarify if there were any injuries resulting from this incident, which is still developing. TxDOT has advised drivers to expect significant delays and to consider using alternate routes as traffic continues to be redirected.
In related developments, ongoing legal issues surrounding multiple vehicle crashes in the area have come to light. Notably, Solomun Weldekeal-Araya, the truck driver implicated in a deadly 18-vehicle crash in March, recently had his bond reduced. The crash on March 13 resulted in five fatalities and left 11 others injured, prompting initial felony counts against Weldekeal-Araya for driving while intoxicated. However, subsequent toxicology results showed no alcohol or drugs in his system.
Following the toxicology report, Weldekeal-Araya’s attorney advocated for a reduction in the bond amount, previously set at $1.2 million. The judge agreed, lowering it to $1,000 per charge, totaling $7,000, while also imposing new pretrial conditions. Despite the decreased bond amount, Weldekeal-Araya continues to face serious felony charges stemming from the crash.
Another related case emerged when Agustin Guillen, a suspect involved in a hit-and-run incident on May 6 that resulted in a motorcyclist’s death, died in a separate crash on I-35 in Round Rock on June 29. Guillen, aged 38, faced felony charges after leaving the scene of the collision and falsely reporting his vehicle stolen. He had been arrested on June 11 but was released on bond just a day later.
The crash that led to Guillen’s death occurred around 2:30 a.m. and involved a single-vehicle rollover. Tragically, two individuals—Maximo Ramirez, 48, and Quinn Stegall, 21—were killed in the incident while they were attempting to assist Guillen when another vehicle struck them. In connection with this incident, 22-year-old Kearra Thomas has been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and now faces two counts of manslaughter for the deaths of Ramirez and Stegall.
Following Guillen’s death on June 30, Travis County prosecutors dropped the felony case against him. The wide-ranging vehicle accidents and their subsequent legal implications have raised concerns about road safety and accountability in North Austin, and the situation continues to evolve.
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Additional Resources
- KVUE News: Multi-Vehicle Crash
- Wikipedia: Interstate 35 in Texas
- KXAN News: Austin Traffic Fatality Map 2025
- Google Search: Austin traffic fatalities 2025
- CBS Austin: Bond Reduced for Truck Driver
- Google Scholar: Bond reduction in fatal traffic crashes
- FOX 7 Austin: I-35 Deadly Multi-Vehicle Crash
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Road safety Texas
- KVUE News: Fatal Hit-and-Run Suspect Killed
- Google News: Austin hit and run June 2023
Author: STAFF HERE AUSTIN WRITER
The AUSTIN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAustinTX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Austin, Travis County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, and the Austin Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Visit Austin, plus leading businesses in technology, automotive, and retail that power the local economy such as Dell Technologies, Tesla, and Apple. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
