Undocumented Immigrant Linked to Fatal Truck Crash
An undocumented immigrant from Indiana, Borko Stankovic, has been arrested after being suspected of causing a deadly semi-truck accident. Interestingly, he had been running a business that secured over $35,000 in loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, as records reveal.
On Wednesday, October 15, Stankovic was driving his Ram Sprinter on Route 20 in Indiana when a traffic stop was initiated after his vehicle made a turn near Douglas Drive. Reports indicate that he failed to slow down, leading to a dramatic confrontation with another vehicle.
In an attempt to evade the cops, he turned left into oncoming traffic, resulting in a collision with a Subaru Crosstrek. Consequently, the semi-truck he was driving jackknifed, struck the Ram Sprinter, and crashed into a roadside sign. Tragically, the driver of the Subaru, a 54-year-old man named Jeffrey Eberly, succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Assistant Secretary of State Tricia McLaughlin stated that Stankovic had been in the U.S. illegally since February 2011, after his nonimmigrant visa expired. Officials also discovered he held a suspended commercial driver’s license (CDL) that belonged to a family member, but he didn’t possess a valid CDL himself.
According to data from ProPublica, Stankovic’s two companies, Eclipse Truck Inc. and ESD Team Co., Ltd., received a total of $36,082 in PPP loans, which, at least, have been forgiven. Business registration documents indicate that he owned both businesses, each listed with one employee.
Stankovic was previously arrested in November 2018 in Long Island, New York, facing charges related to resisting arrest and obstructing public administration. Following the recent accident, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has filed an immigration detainer at the Porter County Jail.
“This individual has been arrested on serious charges, including reckless homicide and criminal recklessness,” McLaughlin noted. “He is a 41-year-old illegal alien from Serbia and Montenegro, and the absence of a valid CDL raises concerns about the basic knowledge of traffic laws among undocumented truck drivers.” She mentioned that the Department of Homeland Security is focusing on removing illegal immigrant truck drivers from roadways.
Rosemary Jenks, from the Immigrant Responsibility Project, expressed concern regarding the access illegal immigrants have to government benefits like PPP loans. “It’s unsettling to think they can tap into taxpayer-funded resources. It’s widely understood that there were minimal checks during the Biden administration regarding loan distribution,” she remarked. “There’s a firm belief that taxpayer money should solely support American citizens.”
Due to Stankovic’s immigration status, he was detained by ICE as he was taken to the jail. He has faced charges of felony reckless homicide and felony reckless manslaughter. Stankovic’s attorney has declined to comment.
Inquiries have been made to the Department of Homeland Security and the Small Business Administration regarding this situation.
