Missouri Truck Driver Charged in Crash That Killed Three

Skander, 39, faces three counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the crash. The victims were 35-year-old Sorbalo and her two sons, Luis and Samir. The family was traveling to the airport for a flight home to Washington, a relative said. Sorbalo’s husband and the family’s youngest child survived; six other people were taken to a hospital with serious injuries, prosecutors said.

Court documents allege Skander was driving a Volvo semi-truck on northbound U.S. 71 when traffic slowed or stopped. The truck continued at high speed and struck a Honda Odyssey, setting off a chain-reaction collision, prosecutors said. Investigators found no sign that the truck’s braking system had been engaged before impact.

A tablet was found on the truck’s floorboard with YouTube open. The device held records of the vehicle’s trips, while officials said onboard video equipment could have captured the collision.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement described Skander as an undocumented Ukrainian immigrant who had been allowed to enter the United States during President Biden’s term. Jail records show an ICE hold and a $150,000 bond. His court filing lists a Chicago address.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Skander’s non-domiciled commercial driver’s license was issued by Illinois in March 2025. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has opened investigations into the trucking company that hired him and Illinois’ issuance of the license. The criminal charges are allegations; the case will proceed through court.

Crash Charges Should Not Become a Case for Immigration Blame

Three people died in a Missouri crash, and the driver now faces three counts of involuntary manslaughter. The focus should be on the alleged conduct and the systems responsible for keeping dangerous drivers off the road—not on turning a family’s loss into a political argument about immigration.

Prosecutors allege Eldar Skander’s semi-truck continued at high speed as traffic stopped on northbound U.S. 71, striking a Honda Odyssey and triggering a chain-reaction crash. Investigators found no sign that the truck’s braking system had been engaged. A tablet was found open to YouTube, though officials said it held records of the vehicle’s trips and that onboard video equipment might have captured the collision.

The crash killed Olga Sorbalo, 35, and her two young sons as the family was heading to the airport. Her husband and youngest child survived, and six others were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Federal officials say Skander is an undocumented Ukrainian immigrant, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says Illinois issued his non-domiciled commercial license in March 2025. The federal government is investigating both the company that hired him and the state’s licensing process. Those investigations, and the criminal case, should establish responsibility; immigration status alone does not establish what caused this crash.

Fatal Missouri Crash Raises Questions About Immigration and Trucking Oversight

A mother and two children are dead after prosecutors say a semi-truck barreled into stopped traffic in Kansas City. The driver, Eldar Skander, faces three involuntary manslaughter counts, while the circumstances of his immigration status and commercial license have prompted federal scrutiny.

Prosecutors allege the truck was traveling at high speed on northbound U.S. 71 as traffic slowed to a stop, then hit a Honda Odyssey and caused a chain-reaction crash. Investigators found no indication the truck’s braking system had been engaged before impact. A tablet was discovered open to YouTube on the floorboard; officials said it held records of the vehicle’s trips, and onboard video equipment might have captured the collision.

The victims were Olga Sorbalo, 35, and her two young sons. They were heading to the airport for a flight home to Washington. Sorbalo’s husband and youngest child survived, while six other people were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

ICE described Skander as an undocumented Ukrainian immigrant who entered the United States during President Biden’s term. Duffy said Illinois issued Skander a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license in March 2025. Federal investigators are now examining how the license was issued and the company that hired him—questions that matter alongside the criminal case in determining how this tragedy was allowed to happen.