An Uzbek commercial truck driver, admitted to the United States via a diversity lottery program, has been charged in a fatal crash that killed a University of Massachusetts at Lowell soccer goalkeeper in Madison County, Ohio. Authorities reported that the driver, identified as 28-year-old Bekhzod Asrarov, used Google Translate to communicate with state troopers at the scene.
The incident occurred on Interstate 71 when Asrarov allegedly rammed the back of a vehicle. The collision resulted in the death of Tobias "Toby" Forsythe, 21, who played goalkeeper for the UMass Lowell River Hawks. Forsythe, an economics major, had previously played for Ashland University and Shawnee State.
Sources told Fox News that Asrarov, who holds a commercial driver's license (CDL) from Ohio, attempted to remove a dash camera from his truck and conceal it when troopers arrived. He entered the U.S. in 2024 during the Biden administration through the diversity visa lottery program.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commented on the incident via X, stating, "We cannot let truckers like Asrarov, who can't read our road signs or speak to law enforcement, drive 80,000-pound rigs on America’s highways." The UMass Lowell athletics department and head coach Kyle Zenoni issued statements mourning Forsythe's death, remembering him for his work ethic and impact on the team.
This incident follows heightened scrutiny of commercial drivers' English proficiency. Previously, a Haitian national, who authorities stated remained in the U.S. despite an order to leave, was charged in the death of a Pennsylvania State Police trooper during a commercial vehicle inspection. The Trump administration has previously advocated for revoking the CDLs of immigrant truck drivers deemed not proficient in English, citing road safety concerns.