The driver involved in a deadly crash in Virginia that resulted in three fatalities has been revealed as a legal immigrant.
A federal law enforcement official informed FOX News that the tractor-trailer driver, 58-year-old El Hadj Karamoko Quattara, is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Ivory Coast.
Interestingly, he was reportedly in the country illegally during the 1990s but later became a naturalized citizen after obtaining a green card.
“According to federal sources, this individual was indeed in the U.S. without proper documentation for a period but managed to acquire a green card and, ultimately, naturalization,” the report detailed.
According to the Virginia State Police, Quattara was driving north on Interstate 81 when he lost control and collided with a Honda Odyssey parked on the shoulder.
As a result, the three occupants of the car—a 65-year-old, a 49-year-old, and a 2-year-old—were rushed to a hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
Virginia State Police indicated that Quattara was heading north on Interstate 81 when he veered off the right side and struck the stopped vehicle.
In the Odyssey, Lorraine Renee Williams, 49-year-old Ebony Latasha Williams, and 2-year-old Shaziyah Leslie were taken to the hospital, but unfortunately, they passed away from their injuries, according to police reports.
Additionally, three other passengers sustained injuries. A 63-year-old man, a 10-year-old girl, and another man in his early 70s were also hospitalized.
As reported, Quattara is now facing three counts of manslaughter linked to the incident, according to a statement from the Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office.
This tragic event unfolds amid discussions involving Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and President Trump, focusing on the trucking industry bailouts, particularly noting illegal immigrants acquiring commercial driver’s licenses in states like New York without a permanent address.
In April, President Trump issued an executive order directing Duffy to ensure that drivers violating English proficiency regulations should face suspension and that road safety be enhanced.
Duffy has publicly criticized New York Governor Cathy Hochul (D), asserting that granting commercial driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants jeopardizes safety and has even threatened funding cuts to California for similar reasons.
