Trucker faces three counts after highway crash kills mother and two boys
Eldar Skander is accused of striking stopped cars on U.S. 71 while a tablet played video in the cab.
By Jack Thompson ·
Eldar Skander, a 39-year-old truck driver, was charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter on Tuesday. The charges stem from a collision that killed Olga Sorbalo, 35, and her two sons, Luis, 9, and Samir, 6.
Court documents allege Skander was operating a semi-truck on northbound U.S. 71 around 3:20 p.m. He allegedly traveled at a high speed and struck three vehicles that were stopped on the roadway. Authorities stated that a preliminary investigation found no indication the truck’s emergency brakes were used before the impact.
An officer located a tablet on the truck’s floorboard. The device was open to the YouTube application at the time of discovery. The tablet also held the driver’s log, and investigators noted that a dash camera may have recorded the event.
The timeline of Skander’s legal status shifted quickly after the crash. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced on Wednesday that Skander was an illegal alien from Ukraine. He is currently held at the Jackson County Detention Center, where jail records show he has an additional hold for ICE.
The court filing lists Skander’s address as a residence in Chicago. Immigration officials have not yet provided further details regarding his status in the United States.
