Man charged in fiery wreck that killed 4 people in South Austin
AUSTIN, Texas - Austin police have arrested a man in connection with a fiery wreck that killed 4 people in South Austin.
Arthur L. Wright, 35, has been charged with four counts of second degree felony intoxication manslaughter and four counts of second degree felony accident involving death.
After a night out celebrating his 35th birthday, Wright is in jail. Video showed he caused the fiery crash in South Austin early Sunday morning.
Arthur L. Wright, 35, has been charged with four counts of intoxication manslaughter and four counts of failure to stop and render aid. (Austin Police Department)
It happened in front of the Toyota Dealership off I-35 at around 2:30 a.m. Officers said the video captured by the dealership showed Wright driving southbound on the service road in a tan Lincoln.
A black Nissan was hit from behind by the Lincoln, caused the Nissan to turn sideways and roll over. After the Nissan came to a stop, it burst into flames.
"Any time there's a collision of that magnitude we have to be very cautious of that in approaching that scene," Austin-Travis County EMS Capt. Darren Noak said.
Four people in the Nissan died at the scene and a fifth person was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The victims have not been identified.
Video showed Wright fled the scene. He was found about 2 hours later walking in a neighborhood about a mile away from the crash. He had scratch marks all over his body and thorny burrs covered his head, shorts, socks, and shoes. DWI officers said he showed signs of being intoxicated.
Wright has been arrested several times before in the Travis County for theft, possession of marijuana, sexual assault, unlawful restraint and driving with a suspended license.
Wright is currently wanted and has an arrest warrant in another county.
Wright is being held in the Travis County Jail on more than $600,000 bond. His first court appearance is on August 16, 2023.
Anyone with information is asked to call APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. You may also submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.