Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN's latest coverage of the March 13 deadly I-35 crash in north Austin.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three victims in Thursday night's deadly crash on Interstate 35 were identified by Travis County officials on Tuesday.
Truck driver in fatal I-35 crash allegedly
under influence of drugs, affidavit says
Sergieo Daniel Lopez, 32, and Natalia Helana Perez, 25, along with Ma Concepcion Joaquin De Joaquin, 78, were identified as three of the five people killed in the north Austin crash. Eleven other people suffered injuries in the 18-vehicle crash, which included some semi-trucks and closed the interstate for nearly 14 hours.
According to a police arrest affidavit, Joaquin De Joaquin was the left rear passenger in a green Chevrolet pickup carrying three people. The report states that the Chevrolet was struck from behind with such force that the rear seats were nearly pushed into the front seats. The driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, including rib and spinal fractures.
Lopez and Perez were in a silver Volkswagen with an infant and a child when the crash occurred, according to police. Detectives noted that the damage to their vehicle was so severe that the vehicle was unrecognizable. The names of the children have not been publicly released.
The driver of the semi-truck that police believe caused the crash was allegedly under the influence of drugs, the arrest affidavit said. Investigators said he failed to slow down for traffic that had backed up due to construction-related lane closures.
The 37-year-old man has been charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle involving serious bodily injury in connection with the crash. ...read more read less