I35 crash victims file $1M lawsuit against construction company, others
Mar 26, 2025
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two people injured in a crash on Interstate 35 that killed five people and injured at least 11 others filed a lawsuit Wednesday against several parties believed to be involved in the crash, including Amazon, court records state.
Some victims of deadly I-35 crash identified
The plaintiffs, Francisco Villalobos and Priscilla Davila of Bell County, are asking for $1 million in monetary relief in the lawsuit against the truck driver arrested in connection with the crash, trucking carrier ZBN Transport LLC, construction company Pulice Construction, Inc. and Amazon, documents state.
KXAN has reached out to the parties mentioned in the lawsuit. This story will be updated when we receive responses.
“This is a horrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with all those involved. We're cooperating with all investigations," Amazon told KXAN Wednesday.
The lawsuit said Pulice Construction controlled the temporary work zone where the crash happened, and that the company has a $606 million contract with the Texas Department of Transportation.
The lawsuit said the lanes were reduced from three to one, creating a "bottleneck" in the work zone that "created a high-risk environment for traffic backups." Additionally, the suit said there was inadequate distance for merge lanes and signage to alert drivers of the work zone was "improperly spaced."
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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 unchecked tractor-trailer slammed into the stopped vehicles ahead, causing a 500-foot chain-reaction crash," the lawsuit said.
37-year-old Solomun Weldekeal-Araya 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.
‘Wiping out generations’: Attorney for I-35 crash victims going after trucking companies, construction
“My investigation is just beginning, and I cannot assume that the police or NTSB have been thorough or accurate in theirs,” Bristol Meyers, Araya’s attorney, told KXAN last week.
The lawsuit said the driver had several hours-of-service violations while driving the truck in the week leading up to the crash. The driver said the brakes didn't work properly before the crash, the document said.
Araya was working for an independent carrier, ZBN Transport LLC, hauling a load for Amazon. The day after the crash, ZBN told KXAN over the phone that Araya had been with the company for about four months, and he passed his background check.
This is one of several lawsuits already filed by the families of victims killed and injured in the crash.
Dalton Huey contributed to this story. ...read more read less