A Virginia truck crash killed three people, including a two-year-old child, and raised concerns about driver qualifications and immigration history. Authorities say 58-year-old El Hadji Karamoko Ouattara ran his tractor-trailer off Interstate 81 and struck a minivan, injuring three others.
Victims and Charges
Local authorities identified the victims who died as 65-year-old Lorraine Renee Williams, 49-year-old Ebony Latasha Williams, and 2-year-old Shazziyah Lesley. Three other individuals—a 63-year-old man, a 73-year-old man, and a 10-year-old girl—survived but were hospitalized. The Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office charged Ouattara with three counts of involuntary manslaughter following the December 22 crash.
Immigration Background
A federal law enforcement source said Ouattara first entered the U.S. illegally in the 1990s from the Ivory Coast. He later obtained a green card and became a naturalized citizen. The crash has intensified the national debate over road safety and unqualified drivers with irregular immigration status.
Federal Response and Safety Concerns
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discussed the Department of Transportation’s collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security to prevent non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses from going to unqualified immigrants.
Earlier this year, Duffy pointed to a similar fatal crash in Florida involving an Indian national. That case prompted California to revoke 17,000 problematic CDL licenses. Duffy said DOT will actively ensure that only qualified, properly licensed drivers operate commercial vehicles to keep highways safe.
