ICE Arrests Russian National Linked to Fatal Semi-Truck Crash
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained a Russian man connected to a semi-truck accident that resulted in a fatality in 2024, and authorities are pursuing his deportation.
Georgy Gabiev was arrested for being an illegal immigrant involved in criminal activity. He entered the U.S. on June 9, 2022, in Brooklyn, New York, as stated in a press release from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The incident leading to Gabiev’s arrest took place on March 5, 2024, where he allegedly struck semi-truck driver Tim Tarnowski after ignoring a stop sign. It was reported that Gabiev was using his iPad to watch an English learning video while driving. He later pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide and received a sentence of 120 days in jail.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin expressed that “this illegal alien had no business being in our nation or on our roads,” emphasizing that the current administration’s policies contributed to the tragedy, which could have been avoided, allowing Tim to remain alive.
After entering the country unlawfully, Gabiev was released and is now in ICE’s custody awaiting deportation proceedings, according to the DHS announcement.
Among the charges against him were vehicular homicide and reckless driving, as highlighted by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Following the crash, a Minnesota State Trooper reported arriving at the scene to find the semi-trailer overturned and on fire. They discovered Gabiev’s truck with an iPad playing a video inside, which raised serious concerns about his driving behavior.
State troopers responded to the incident at the intersection shortly after 5 p.m., where they found Tarnowski deceased at the scene. As the officer approached Gabiev’s vehicle, they searched for insurance documents and found the iPad still actively playing a YouTube video under the dashboard.
Gabiev’s arrest came amid pressure from various lawmakers, including Senators Adam Schiff, Alex Padilla, and Nancy Pelosi, who had urged the Transportation Secretary to restore $160 million in funds to California that were reportedly withheld due to state deferral issues.
In a related note, it’s mentioned that approximately 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses exist in California, pointing to the broader context of transportation funding challenges.
