Fatal Semi-Truck Crash Involving Undocumented Driver
Reports indicate that an undocumented immigrant truck driver, implicated in a deadly semi-truck accident in Indiana, previously ran a company that received taxpayer funds. The individual has been identified as Borko Stankovic, who was involved in a crash on October 15 that resulted in one fatality.
Documents analyzed by ProPublica show that Stankovic’s companies, Eclipse Truck Co. and ESD Team Inc., secured $36,082 through pandemic-related loans. State business records confirm that he owned both entities.
It’s alleged that Stankovic was operating on a suspended Illinois commercial driver’s license that belonged to a relative, and he didn’t possess a valid license in his own name.
As he drove along Route 20, traffic was at a standstill due to a Ram Sprinter’s turn. Stankovic reportedly made a sudden left, entering oncoming traffic and colliding with a Subaru Crosstrek.
The semi-truck then jackknifed, hitting the Ram Sprinter, which subsequently struck a road sign. Tragically, Jeffrey Eberly, 54, who was driving the Subaru, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that Stankovic has been in the country without legal status since his visa expired in early 2011. He also has a prior arrest record in New York for resisting arrest and obstructing government operations.
Assistant Secretary of State Tricia McLaughlin expressed frustration, stating that such an incident should not have occurred. She emphasized that undocumented individuals should not be behind the wheels of large trucks on U.S. highways.
In a related incident, authorities have also identified another illegal truck driver linked to an eight-vehicle accident in California. This individual, Jashanpreet Singh, is also accused of being undocumented and has a history involving early 2022 border encounters that led to his release in California.
Further complicating the issue, another driver, Harijidnor Singh, allegedly caused a crash that killed three Americans in Florida. He reportedly struggled with basic English and failed to recognize traffic signs after the accident.
Concerns are growing among truck driver advocates regarding policies that they say have made it easier for many undocumented immigrants to acquire commercial driver’s licenses. They claim this has led to a significant black market in the trucking sector, where oversight is alarmingly lax.
This environment allows companies and unauthorized drivers to operate without adequate regulation, risking the safety of others on the road. Shannon Everett, a co-founder of American Truckers United, mentioned that this regulatory gap permits harm to legitimate truck drivers and the public alike.
On the West Coast, the trucking black market is heavily reliant on immigrant drivers from India, while the East Coast sees significant influence from Eastern European immigrants. Many undocumented individuals may pose as tourists to work in the industry without proper credentials.
Everett called for insurers to reassess their rules to recognize the damage inflicted by unregulated trucking operations. He highlighted that when such companies cause incidents, they often dissolve without accountability, leaving those affected to face the consequences.
Addressing these issues, Everett suggested that more robust steps need to be taken to ensure that responsible parties are held accountable, including intermediaries involved in the logistics of trucking operations.
