Prosecutors say a semi driver with YouTube open on his dash tablet never braked before he slammed into a family’s minivan in Kansas City, killing a visiting mother and her two young sons.
Story Highlights
- Eldar Skander, 39, of Chicago, faces three counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter.
- Prosecutors say his semi hit stopped traffic on U.S. 71 at high speed with no sign of emergency braking.
- Investigators say a tablet in the cab was open to the YouTube app.
- ICE says he is in the country illegally from Ukraine and has placed a hold on him.
Prosecutors Charge Driver After Deadly U.S. 71 Pileup
The crash happened shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Monday, November 9, on northbound U.S. 71 near East 19th Street, south of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Court documents say traffic had slowed and stopped, but the white Volvo semi kept coming at high speed and hit the rear of a black Honda Odyssey minivan. Investigators found no sign the driver hit his emergency brakes, and prosecutors point to that, his speed and the tablet below as the reasons for the charges.
Olga Sorbalo, 35, and her sons, Luis and Samir, were killed. The family lived in Vancouver, Washington. Relatives say they had been visiting family in Kansas City and were on their way to the airport to fly home. Her husband, Liviu, was critically injured. The crash set off a chain reaction that also hit a Honda CR-V, a Ford Explorer and a FedEx truck, and several other people were hurt.
On Tuesday, November 10, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson charged Skander with three counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter. Under Missouri law, that charge means causing a death through reckless conduct, without meaning to kill. He is accused, not convicted. He is held on a $150,000 cash-only bond. Court records say he declined to be interviewed by detectives. He was treated for minor injuries.
What Investigators Say They Found in the Cab
According to court records, an investigator took an electronic tablet from the floor of the truck. It was open to the YouTube app. The tablet also held the truck’s driving log, and its Velcro backing matched a mount on the dashboard, where the driver could see it. Police also recovered a dash camera that may have recorded the crash.
Investigators say early calculations show that, at the speed limit, the driver would have had about 22 seconds of clear view to stop before reaching the stopped cars. Prosecutors have not said what speed the truck was going.
ICE Places a Hold on the Driver
On Wednesday, November 11, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said on its official X account that Skander is “an illegal alien from Ukraine.” ICE called him a “Biden-released illegal alien” and said, “Reckless open-border policies have resulted in countless preventable tragedies.” Jail records show he is held at the Jackson County Detention Center with a hold for ICE. That kind of hold, called a detainer, asks the jail to keep a person so federal agents can take custody of him.
That puts two tracks in motion: the state manslaughter case and a federal immigration case. ICE has not said publicly when he entered the country or how he got a commercial driver’s license.
A Family Grieves
Olga’s brother, Daniel Cosovan, said the family was stuck in traffic when the truck hit them from behind. “They were stuck in traffic, and a truck hit them from the back at a high speed,” he said. He remembered his sister as someone who “always turned any situation into a positive one.” He said faith is helping the family cope. “Believing in God that we will see them in heaven, that’s a big comfort,” he said. A family friend’s fundraiser for the funeral has raised more than $100,000.
Why This Case Matters Beyond Kansas City
Truck routes run through every state, carrying our food, fuel and freight. Most drivers do it right every mile. But a loaded semi can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and when a driver’s eyes leave the road, there is almost no room for error. Strict company rules, firm enforcement and personal responsibility behind the wheel keep families safe on the drive home. The courts will decide this case. The Sorbalo family will carry it for the rest of their lives.
Sources:
kshb.com, kansascity.com, kctv5.com, fox4kc.com, kptv.com, jacksoncountyprosecutor.com